Academics sign petition and Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia threatens boycott after email warns against taking part in protests

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Monash University is under increasing pressure to issue a “genuine apology” for appearing to threaten its Malaysian students with disciplinary action if they took part in anti-government street protests.



The university has apologised for an email it sent last week warning students at its Malaysian campus not to take part in the protests, which have called for greater government transparency and accountability following a multibillion-dollar misappropriation scandal.

The email, sent by the registrar of Monash University Malaysia, Dr Susheela Nair, suggested the gatherings may be “illegal” and warned students against any involvement.

“You are advised not to participate in any illegal gathering/related activity which contravenes Malaysian laws,” he wrote. “Any student found to be participating in such gathering/activity or who is arrested by the authorities for doing so may be subjected to disciplinary proceedings.”

The email was widely interpreted as a threat by Monash students in Malaysia and many took to social media, attacking the university for undermining their democratic rights.

Following a significant backlash online, the university issued an apology the next day, stating that the email “did not properly convey the intent of the message”.



“Monash University provides an unreserved apology for the wording of the recently issued communication to Monash University Malaysia students regarding illegal gatherings,” it said.

“The intent of the message was to remind students that taking part in unlawful assembly is contrary to the laws of Malaysia and students need to be aware of the consequences of undertaking unlawful activities.

“Students who do participate in such activities may be subjected to criminal charges by the Malaysian authorities and, as such, students need to consider carefully their participation in such events.”

The university appeared to suggest the email was sent out of concern for the safety and welfare of its students. But the apology appears to have done little to temper students’ anger.

Alumni and current Monash students took to Facebook to voice their disapproval of the university’s email.



“Monash, this is very disappointing,” Suzzane Huang, a former student, said. “You are precisely not empowering your students if you threaten them with disciplinary action when they are trying to participate in a democratic process.”

Another Monash alumni, Dhivya Kanaga, wrote: “This is incredibly disappointing. The right to peaceful assembly is written in our constitution.

“It’s a bit rich preaching integrity to a bunch of young people who are trying to hold government accountable for its lack thereof.”



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A public petition, signed by academics from Australia and abroad, called on Monash to issue a “genuine apology” and retraction.

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, a not-for-profit group representing Malaysians in Australia, issued a statement on Tuesday demanding the university retract its apparent threat and issue a full apology.



The group’s Australian president, Praveen Nagappan, said the university needed to issue a proper apology and discipline the registrar responsible.

Failing that, Nagappan said the university faced a boycott from Malaysian students.

“The implication is that the university could be said to be opposed to freedom of speech and assembly, which is shameful,” he said. “This is totally contrary to values expounded by successive Australian governments and the wider community for generations.

“Monash University has totally compromised its standing in academic communities around the world, a standing that has been irrevocably damaged by the threat of disciplinary action.”