KUALA LUMPUR – University lecturers should refrain from commenting on matters outside their specialisation and instead focus on their respective fields, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the academic world operates within clear procedures and guidelines that safeguard the integrity of knowledge and the credibility of higher education institutions.
“We do not stop lecturers from expressing views related to their respective fields, however it is not ideal when they comment on issues outside their field,” he told reporters after presenting the Higher Education Minister’s Special Award: Innovative Curriculum Design and Delivery (AKRI) 2025 yesterday.
“This is something that has often been raised, and as I have repeatedly emphasised, they should focus on their own areas of specialisation.”
Zambry was commenting on remarks by International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer Prof Dr Solehah Yaacob, who suggested that ancient Roman shipbuilding techniques may have been influenced by Malay seafarers. Her comments came after the discovery of a 13th-century shipwreck off Pulau Melaka last Friday — believed to be one of the oldest shipwrecks ever found in Malaysia.
According to Zambry, professors and lecturers must serve as reference points for the community within their disciplines, much like specialist doctors who only provide opinions in their areas of expertise.
“However, when a professor in a technical field speaks as though they are an expert in an unrelated area — even if their views may be reasonable — such remarks often raise questions in the academic community when presented as personal expertise,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Zambry stressed the need for Malaysia’s higher education system to strengthen two key pillars — curriculum and pedagogy — to stay relevant amid global changes and industry demands.
He said the curriculum should go beyond knowledge content to include values, soft skills and graduate employability, aligning with the ministry’s 10-year education plan that incorporates emerging disciplines such as planetary health and multidisciplinary approaches in engineering.
Zambry added that the education system must balance technical expertise with human development, ensuring that human values remain central to Malaysia’s higher education action plan.
He noted that among the main challenges was the imbalance in digital access, and said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had directed all universities to achieve 100 per cent internet coverage to ensure equal access to knowledge, particularly in polytechnics and community colleges. – November 6, 2025