The National Council of Professors (MPN) is under fire following a recent scandal involving its President, Raduan Che Rose, who faces seven charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT). This has led to renewed calls for the council to be disbanded, with critics questioning its relevance and contribution to Malaysian society.
Dr. Sharifah Munirah Alatas, the Chair of Gerak, a Malaysian academic movement, and Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, the Chairman of Khazanah Research Institute, have both spoken out against the council, urging its immediate dissolution. Their criticisms centre on the belief that MPN has failed to live up to its purported mission of promoting knowledge and nation-building.
Questioning the Council's Relevance
Sharifah Munirah Alatas has been particularly vocal, arguing that MPN has yet to make any significant scholarly contribution to the betterment of Malaysia, despite receiving substantial government funding. She pointed out that the council has often been perceived as a tool to legitimise the ruling political party rather than an independent body fostering intellectual discourse and ethical values.
Munirah lamented to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) that MPN appears to have been more aligned with those in power rather than pursuing truth or generating new knowledge.
She further questioned the council's focus, asking where the critical research on pressing issues such as ethnic polarisation, climate change, and the displacement of indigenous communities was.
She called for the immediate disbandment of MPN, questioning the distorted role it has played in improving the lives of all Malaysians.
Economist Echoes the Sentiment
Nungsari Ahmad Radhi echoed Munirah's sentiments, stating that he saw no need for the council to exist. He emphasised that all professors are already appointed by and affiliated with universities, making a separate council redundant.
He added that while professors are free to form associations, it should not come at the cost of taxpayers' money. Nungsari suggested that professors could still advocate their views, offer consultancy services, and contribute to policy discussions through their universities without the need for a separate, taxpayer-funded council.
A History of Controversy
The controversy surrounding MPN is not new. The council was disbanded in 2018 when Pakatan Harapan came to power, removing it from the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department, as it was deemed "political" and "non-essential." However, it was restructured and reinstated in 2022 under the Ministry of Higher Education.
The recent charges against Raduan Che Rose have reignited the debate over the council’s relevance. Raduan, who also serves as the Chairman of Universiti Teknologi Mara’s board of directors, is accused of transferring RM71,000 of MPN funds into the bank account of MPN Global Reach CEO Kefli Mahpol, along with RM200,000 as down payments for a programme with UKMShape, an entity of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Kefli has also been charged with collusion.
Raduan has called the charges "absurd" and plans to submit representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to seek their dismissal.
The Call for Accountability
The calls for MPN’s disbandment underscore a broader demand for accountability and transparency within government-funded organisations. As public trust in such institutions wanes, it is crucial for entities like MPN to demonstrate their value and commitment to the public good. However, for many, the recent scandal and the council's history of perceived political entanglements are clear indications that it may be time to shut the doors on MPN for good.
Final Thoughts
The controversy surrounding the National Council of Professors (MPN) raises serious questions about its role and effectiveness. With key figures like Sharifah Munirah Alatas and Nungsari Ahmad Radhi urging its disbandment, citing a lack of meaningful contributions and misuse of public funds, the council’s future is in doubt. The criminal charges against its president, Raduan Che Rose, further undermine its credibility. Unless MPN can quickly demonstrate its value to society, the calls for its dissolution may soon become unavoidable.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Kpost is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
