Syarahan Razak Baginda di UIAM dibatal

A political analyst, Abdul Razak Baginda, whose lecture on Asia's Heroes and Villains: A Study of Leadership was scheduled at the Multinational Islamic Thought and Civilization Institute (UIAM) in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled. UIAM informed the public via a Facebook post that they apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding and respect for privacy.

The cancellation comes after concerns raised by the UIAM Academic Staff Union regarding the lecture and the selection of Razak, who was held civilly responsible for the 2006 murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu along with a former politician and two police officers. The union proposed several steps if the university decides to proceed with the lecture, including inviting a co-panelist or speaker to provide additional or contrasting perspectives on leadership and accountability.

Considering the sensitivity and themes of the lecture on leadership and accountability, the union believes the event would benefit from a more balanced platform. They further suggested a neutral moderator to pose questions on leadership and accountability directly linked to Razak's public history, in line with open academic inquiry principles.

This move would strengthen the lecture's academic integrity, encourage critical student involvement, and protect UIAM's reputation as a platform for balanced discourse. The union also urged UIAM to establish a review protocol for future speaker selections to avoid unnecessary controversies that could tarnish the university's reputation.