LETTER | Sociopaths and chancellors of vice?

LETTER | Over the past few days, social and online media have been working overtime churning out reports of shameless and even violent individuals.

Gerak’s concern in this statement is with two reported incidents that occurred in two of our lesser-known public universities, and the unacceptable role of their vice-chancellors (VCs).

The first incident (which was recorded) had a VC dishing out outrageous advice at a gathering to welcome new students to the public university she headed. The clip of her speaking, which has gone viral, has her advising the bemused students and her staff on how to conduct affairs and sexual liaisons without bringing the university into disrepute.

Gerak has consistently argued for greater autonomy for our academics and universities. We believe strongly that universities should be run by their faculty members with no interference, especially from politicians.

At the same time, however, we have always argued for the leaders of these universities - from the VCs through to the deans and heads of department - to be mature academics of a significant intellectual and moral calibre, and not disingenuous apple-polishing, frivolous, and insincere political appointees.

Of course, this has been conveniently ignored most of the time as can be seen in the quality of many VCs our public universities have had over the decades. This is because of the nature and extent of political meddling in Malaysia’s education system.

Misguided leaders

This latest unfortunate incident of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) VC dishing out intimate relationship tips to students and staff during the Minggu Haluan Siswa 2024 was not only jarring, but terribly out of place, and even counterproductive.

A VC should be dialoguing with new students and staff about the nature of universities, academic culture, the responsibilities of undergraduates and the academic challenges they need to overcome.

Furthermore, VCs should be instructing both students and staff about academic honesty, and about projecting the good name of their universities through scholarly publications and research of high calibre.

Indeed, the VC’s main role, apart from welcoming new students - especially at a time when there is so much discussion and debate about the challenges and failures of Malaysian public universities - surely is to motivate the newcomers, encourage them to dream about making a difference in society, and to develop confidence so they can right the wrongs in our country.

All that, as well as to lay down the law to behave as responsible citizens and civilised human beings. Indeed, in the recent case of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), there has certainly been a dismal failure in doing just that.

UPNM, of course, is that unfortunate public university that not long ago had very bad press for the torture and killing of one of its cadets, Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, by fellow cadets, six of whom have since been charged and convicted for murder.

After that horrendous episode, one would think that the purported “leaders” of the university would have made sure nothing remotely like that would ever happen again.

But it has.

Another cadet was recently reported to have been branded with a hot iron pressed on his chest by another student (or, more likely, students) in an incident that almost immediately brought back memories of that horrific, scandalous, indeed murderous, episode that saw the ruthless murder of cadet Zulfarhan.

We find it reprehensible that the country’s sole national defence university, run ostensibly by predominantly retired senior military personnel, and reporting to both the Defence Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry, cannot keep their students/cadets on the straight and disciplined path.

Systemic problems at the core

Where is the discipline that we hear too often as the hallmark of any military establishment? What manner of leaders do we seem to have at UPNM? And what manner of graduates are they churning out, who appear to treat human lives so callously?

Is it in the nature of the students they select? Very unlikely. Or is it in the nature of the system that they have in place? A system that, we suspect, is grounded on patriarchy, machismo, and toxic masculinity. A pathetic system where physically violent ragging, bullying and acting like sociopaths are normalised.

Gerak strongly believes that the buck must stop with the leaders of the university, headed by its VC.

In the case of UTeM and UPNM, both VCs owe it to the public - which by the way, helps fund these universities through the taxes we pay - a frank explanation, and not excuses, brush-offs, or insincere apologies.

Indeed, as far as both of these VCs are concerned, Gerak believes that the honourable and decent thing to do would be for them to step down immediately as vice-chancellors.

GERAK is an association of Malaysian academics committed to educational reforms.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.