I have just watched a video clip of four to five university students in University Putra Malaysia (UPM) being surrounded by a mob. The mob of around 20-30 students was chanting, laughing, shoving cafeteria furniture around and being generally obnoxious and aggressive. When a uniformed guard arrived, he did not make any effort to dispel the mob or ensure the surrounded students' safety.

This display is deeply troubling. It seems that our youth, and educated ones at that, are incapable of rational discussion to overcome disagreements. Instead, tactics of physical intimidation are resorted to.

When there is a conflict of opinions, the increasingly fashionable solution is demonstrated by mob muscle - from the dissent against Article 11's forums to now, differences in standpoint amongst university students.

The freedom of information and expression that is allowed in the cyberspace needs to be further extended to physical spaces. Only then can a culture of respectful debate, and the building of knowledge and understanding through reciprocal exchange, be built.

We need commitment and positive action for this to happen. Those who have the power to facilitate open and healthy debate should take responsibility for this.

Speaking is not only a right, it needs practice for respectful perfection. Narrowing the spaces for expression only signals the victory of force over reason.