Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Mohd Amin Jalaludin said that academic freedom in the university is guaranteed, despite the circular which prohibits staff from organising political activities.
 
Amin said as a public institution, the university respects all provisions in the Malaysian constitution, and this includes academic freedom.
 
When asked whether it was practicing double standards, having invited former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the campus but banning opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Amin refutes this, saying that the university welcomes any figure to discuss “current issues from the academic point of view”.
 
“UM once organised a forum in November 2012, where one of the panelists was (PKR’s Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson) Elizabeth Wong.
 
“And we will also be organising a forum which will have (DAP’s Serdang MP) Ong Kian Ming in attendance,” said Amin, when contacted.
 
Meanwhile, when asked whether the staff’s freedom was guaranteed, the academician said it is, as enshrined in the Constitution.
 
“The circular was only a friendly reminder to the staff of UM. It is not a new ruling and has been put into use by all statutory bodies,” he said.
 
UM’s international and corporate relations office yesterday also said the prohibition on staff from organising any political activity is not a new regulation and is already in force for all statutory bodies.

A picture of the said circular, dated Dec 23, 2014, was uploaded by UM senior economics lecturer Lee Hwok Aun on Thursday.

The letter, sent to all university staff, states that the UM administration henceforth bans all staff from organising political activities, including those "on study leave, vacation leave or attending seminars or workshops inside or outside the country".