33% plunge in Malaysia's academic freedom index raises alarm

On the occasion of the International Academic Freedom Day, we reaffirm that academic freedom is a core value of any democratic society and an essential condition for the pursuit of truth, the advancement of knowledge and the flourishing of intellectual life.

Academic freedom under the Constitution

In the Malaysian context, academic freedom is not a vague idea without legal recognition. Academic freedom is part of the freedoms guaranteed by our Federal Constitution.

Judicial decisions have recognised that the right to education and the right to livelihood are embedded within the constitutional guarantee of the right to life under Article 5(1).

Academic freedom is an important part of the livelihood of those engaged in academic work. Academic freedom is implicitly recognised by the right to education. These rights form the foundation of intellectual autonomy and the ability of individuals to contribute meaningfully to society.

Academic freedom under UUCA

Further support for academic freedom is found in the constitutions of our public universities, established under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA).

These instruments affirm the university’s role in teaching, research and public service – activities which are impossible without freedom of thought and expression.

Under the prescribed constitution, one of the functions of the senate is to draft policies for the protection of academic freedom and professional excellence.

Personal Data Protection Act

Academic freedom is also recognised under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, as can be seen in the provisions that exempt journalistic, literary and artistic expressions from the main regulatory principles of the act.

In legislating those provisions as part of the act, Parliament has recognised the importance of the freedoms to write, create and publish in the public interest.

Implied attribute of universities

But beyond these formal instruments, we argue that whenever a university is created by statute, academic freedom becomes an essential and implied attribute of that institution.

Universities are not mere bureaucratic entities; they are communities of scholars whose legitimacy and societal value lie in their independence, integrity and critical spirit.

Academic freedom does not require express mention; it is an inherent characteristic of the very idea of the university.

Academic freedom and authoritarian regimes

Academic freedom is vital to a democratic society because it ensures that scholars and students can question prevailing norms, challenge power structures and contribute to public debate without fear or favour.

It is the basis on which evidence-based policy, social reform and educational progress are built.

Without it, universities risk becoming instruments of propaganda rather than engines of enlightenment.

It is for this reason that authoritarian regimes are quick to curtail academic freedom. We see this not only in long-standing autocracies but now, worryingly, in the US, where book bans, legislative control over curricula, and punitive measures against dissenting scholars mark a dangerous retreat from democratic norms.

This global trend reminds us that academic freedom must be defended actively, even in societies that claim to be free.

Academic Freedom Index

The Academic Freedom Index (AFI) was designed by the V-Dem Institute of the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. It was jointly launched in March 2020 by the V-Dem Institute, Global Public Policy Institute, and Scholars at Risk.

The AFI varies from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating no academic freedom and 1 representing full academic freedom.

Malaysia’s AFI for 2024 stands at 0.30, having peaked in 2018 at 0.45. This represents a 33% decline from 2018 to 2024. There is an urgent need to halt the downward trend of Malaysia’s AFI.

We call on our universities, lawmakers and the public to protect and promote academic freedom as a constitutional right, a democratic necessity vital for this and future generations.

UK MenonRosli H MahatWan Chang DaWan Abdul Manan Wan Muda

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