NEW STRAITS TIMES
Higher Education Ministry says no to controlling politics in universities
By Audrey Dermawan | 3 April 2023

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (3rd-right) accompanied by USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed (centre), during the visit at the university in George Town. -NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

GEORGE TOWN: The Higher Education Ministry is not interested in carrying out educational policing by controlling politics in universities.

"This is what everyone has to understand.

"I am not the police to be taking care of the universities," Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said today.

He was met after a working visit to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here today.

He was asked on the possibility of allowing political parties to set up branches in universities.

According to Khaled, he did not say that political parties would be be allowed to set up branches in universities.

He said during a debate between members of parliament, they agreed that it was not something fair to do (allowing political parties to set up branches in universities).

"So, it is a no, but they can enter the universities for other activities with permission from the respective university's authorities.

"This is because we don't want our future graduates to only have knowledge, but we also want to develop them to have an open mind.

"We don't want them to be obsessed with just a certain way of thinking from the beginning. This is where the university's role comes in," he added.

Earlier, Khaled urged USM to review their APEX agenda to continue to be the pioneer university in achieving excellence.

APEX is an acronym that stands for Accelerated Programme for Excellence.

USM is the country's first APEX university. This year marks its 15th year as an APEX institution.

Meanwhile, Khaled also praised USM's achievement, which came in fourth placing in sustainability in the world.

"Sustainability is important, and because of that, we have asked that USM head a committee to assess the policy and achievement of institutions in the sustainability agenda," he said.