The Bar Council wishes to express its concern that the recent Ministry of Education directive barring academics from talking to the media on 'sensitive issues' namely the environment and in particular the haze (NST Nov. 7, The STAR, Nov. 7), is against the spirit of freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution and the principles of academic freedom enshrined in free speech.
The right to intellectual discourse, debate and articulatipn is an indivisible part of academic learning and development. The Directive may have the debilitating effect of curbing academic research and discussion.
Intellectualism and academic excellence especially in the area of ideas, and of science and technology, is indispensable for our future growth. We should take note that the rise of the West as the undisputeleader in science and technology over the last century is the story of inventors and intellectuals, and if the development of universities of excellence in Britain, the United States and Germany.
The Bar Council is concerned that the Directive sends the wrong signal as regards our be1ief in the constitutional guarantee of free speech and academic freedom. The Bar Council notes the concern that the publication of faulty or unsubstantiated research findings on the current haze problem may adversely affect the tourist trade, but in a democratic country believing in free speech, and a market place for ideas, a well considered rebuttal may be the best riposte.
Dated 11 November, 1997
Dr. Cyrus V Das
President
Malaysian Bar
The right to intellectual discourse, debate and articulatipn is an indivisible part of academic learning and development. The Directive may have the debilitating effect of curbing academic research and discussion.
Intellectualism and academic excellence especially in the area of ideas, and of science and technology, is indispensable for our future growth. We should take note that the rise of the West as the undisputeleader in science and technology over the last century is the story of inventors and intellectuals, and if the development of universities of excellence in Britain, the United States and Germany.
The Bar Council is concerned that the Directive sends the wrong signal as regards our be1ief in the constitutional guarantee of free speech and academic freedom. The Bar Council notes the concern that the publication of faulty or unsubstantiated research findings on the current haze problem may adversely affect the tourist trade, but in a democratic country believing in free speech, and a market place for ideas, a well considered rebuttal may be the best riposte.
Dated 11 November, 1997
Dr. Cyrus V Das
President
Malaysian Bar