KUALA LUMPUR April 25 – Regret has been expressed by the University of Malaya (UM) today for accommodating a contentious American scholar who made accusations against Malaysian leaders for promoting a “second Holocaust” for Jews during a lecture.
In an official statement, the university strongly criticized Bruce Gilley for his assertion that Malaysia is an unsafe destination for travelers, following the cancellation of his events by Putrajaya.
The university expressed its disapproval, stating, “This statement is both irresponsible and extreme, and it has caused anger among Malaysians.”
Furthermore, UM acknowledged the directive issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and promptly took action by cancelling all scheduled programs and activities involving Gilley.
UM has expressed remorse for the contentious remarks that have ignored societal feelings as spread on social media platforms.
Gilley’s Suggestions
Gilley, a political science professor at Portland State University, was asked to participate in three events by the Department of International and Strategic Studies, beginning with a seminar on international relations on Monday.
Gilley presented a keynote speech on Tuesday entitled “Can Malaysia Emerge as a Dynamic Middle Power”. In a recent social media post discussing the speech, he emphasised that any nation promoting a second Holocaust against the Jewish community will not gain credibility on the global stage, and will not establish a positive relationship with the United States.
Gilley referenced the statements made by ex-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He later removed the post, stating that it was done to ensure the safety and welfare of UM staff who had extended the invitation to him.
Gilley is recognized for his support of Israel, as evidenced by the display of the country’s flag on his X account.
Academic Controversy
In 2017, the publication of his article titled “The Case for Colonialism” in the Third World Quarterly journal sparked significant controversy. This led to the signing of two petitions by numerous academics, urging for the removal of the editor responsible. Additionally, 15 members of the journal’s editorial board chose to resign in protest.