Razak Baginda’s lecture at IIUM cancelled

The public lecture featuring political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda at IIUM's International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation has been cancelled. The lecture, titled "Asia’s Heroes and Villains: A Study of Leadership," was scheduled for Tuesday. IIUM expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and apologized for the cancellation.

The decision to cancel the event followed concerns raised by the university's academic staff association (ASA) regarding Razak's involvement in the civil liability case for the unlawful killing of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. The ASA proposed measures such as inviting a co-speaker or discussant for a contrasting perspective, allowing the moderator to raise questions on leadership and accountability, and establishing a vetting protocol for future speaker selection to maintain academic integrity and promote critical engagement.