KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry has directed Universiti Malaya to submit a report on the recent incident where a foreign professor made controversial remarks at the university, accusing Malaysia of advocating for a second Holocaust against the Jews.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ministry is aware of the incident and takes seriously the matter which did not respect local sensitivities and sentiments.
"I have directed that any programmes and activities scheduled to be attended by the foreign speaker to be cancelled immediately.
"I also request Universiti Malaya to investigate this matter and report further details immediately.
"At the same time, I would like to remind every agency and institution under the ministry to be sensitive, careful and to conduct a thorough background check before inviting any individual or party to the organised events and programmes," he said in a statement tonight.
Zambry said while local institutions of higher learning are given autonomy to organise intellectual programmes, this does not mean that they are independent institutions that do not need take into account the sensitivities of the community and the majority of Malaysians.
"Every decision taken needs to take into account the sensitivities and be in line with the government's policy and stance," he added.