Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, the acting president of Muda, has strongly criticized remarks made by a pro-Israel American professor during a talk at a local university. She expressed particular offense at Portland State University's political science professor Bruce Gilley's assertion that Malaysian politicians were advocating for a second Holocaust against the Jews.
In response to Gilley's comments, Amira labeled them as "absolutely misleading and unacceptable," emphasizing that they inaccurately portrayed Malaysia's commitment to peace and an independent Palestinian state. She stressed that it is the Zionist government of Israel that is perpetrating atrocities against Palestinians, not Malaysia.
Amira urged academic institutions to exercise caution when inviting speakers who propagate pro-Zionist narratives, highlighting the importance of presenting diverse perspectives. She concluded her statement with the powerful declaration, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
A check by Malaysiakini confirmed that Gilley made these remarks during his keynote address at a lecture titled "Will Malaysia become an active middle power?" at Universiti Malaya. In his address, Gilley criticized Malaysia, stating that a country whose leaders endorse anti-Semitic sentiments will not be taken seriously on the world stage and will not be considered a friend or ally of the United States.
Gilley cited statements by Malaysian politicians, including Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu's remark at a rally last year that "Israel will soon disappear," as examples of anti-Jewish rhetoric. He also referenced historical instances of Malaysian leaders expressing hostility towards Jews, including former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's controversial advice to "learn from the Germans on how to kill Jews."
Furthermore, Gilley highlighted phrases commonly used in Malaysian media, such as "From the River to the Sea" and "Israel Cuak" (Israel is frightened), as evidence of the pervasive anti-Israel sentiment in the country.
Malaysiakini reached out to Universiti Malaya for comment, and a spokesperson, who declined to be named, stated that they are "looking into the matter."
The controversy underscores the ongoing debate surrounding Malaysia's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the portrayal of Jews in Malaysian discourse. It also raises questions about academic freedom and the responsibility of universities to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in public discourse.
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