KUALA LUMPUR: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir today said academicians have the right to express their views, and those who disagree should respond with academic arguments.
"Academicians argue based on their expertise and background.
"We have to differentiate between academic arguments and mere statements, whether from academicians or the public.
"It is the responsibility of those who disagree in an academic context to counter it with an academic argument.
"Any sweeping statement cannot be accepted," he said in response to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang).
Awang asked about a police probe into Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong over his statement allegedly criticising vernacular schools.
On Monday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told parliament that police had opened an investigation paper into Teo over his statement allegedly criticizing vernacular schools.
He said the investigation was opened under Section 505 of the Penal Code for public mischief and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Teo had courted controversy when he allegedly said vernacular schools were a barrier to national unity.
The statement was published on an online portal, Merdeka Times.
He had alleged that 95 per cent of Chinese children sent to Chinese vernacular schools did not want to integrate with the Malays, who were the majority in the country.
"The number of vernacular schools must be limited because they are barriers to national unity.
"These Chinese children only know how to speak Chinese, they cannot interact with other races because they would need to speak in English or Bahasa Malaysia," he had reportedly said.
Last week, Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) described Teo's statements as inflammatory towards the Malays and could cause division in the community.
She had also asked the police to investigate Teo for his comments.