Razak Baginda’s lecture at IIUM cancelled

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has cancelled a lecture featuring political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda. The lecture, titled "Asia’s Heroes and Villains: A Study of Leadership," was set to take place at the university’s International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (Istac) on Tuesday. In a Facebook post, IIUM expressed regret for the cancellation and apologized for any inconvenience caused.

The decision to cancel the lecture came after the university’s academic staff association raised concerns about Razak’s involvement in the civil liability case related to Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu’s unlawful killing in 2006. The academic staff association had proposed various measures to address the sensitive nature of the topic, such as inviting a co-speaker or allowing the moderator to raise questions on leadership and accountability. These measures aimed to promote a balanced perspective and uphold academic integrity.