University apologises after outrage over ‘second Holocaust’ claim by US professor

The University of Malaya (UM) issued a public apology yesterday for hosting US academician Bruce Gilley who accused Malaysia of advocating a “second Holocaust” against Jews during a lecture at its institution.

“Action will be taken against those found to be involved with this issue. UM also takes this matter seriously and apologises to all parties,” it said.

“UM has taken note of the recommendation by the higher education minister by cancelling all scheduled programmes and activities involving the foreign guest speaker.”

The school also said it would prepare a full report on the controversy surrounding the talk and enhance procedures and implement stricter guidelines, particularly for background checks on individuals or parties it collaborated with to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile, amid the escalating row, Gilley announced on social media platform X that he was leaving Malaysia. Gilley said he had safely departed from the country and was one step ahead of the “mob” whipped up by the government and would issue updates later.

On Tuesday, the political science professor from Portland State University in the US state of Oregon reportedly downplayed Malaysia’s ties with the United States and was criticised on social media after he purportedly claimed that Malaysia had pushed for a “second Holocaust against the Jewish people” during a talk in UM.

In his talk titled “Will Malaysia

Become an Active Middle Power”, he was quoted as saying: “A country whose political leaders advocate a second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be a serious player in world affairs, and will certainly never be a friend or partner of the US.”

Explaining the matter on X, Gilley said he had removed the post containing the quote from his keynote address for the safety and well-being of his colleagues at UM, whose leadership had responded to the student outcry.

He also said the quote reflected his views alone, and that he regretted any harm he had caused to his academic colleagues.

Following the controversy, Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir ordered that all programmes involving Gilley were to be cancelled with immediate effect.

UM was also ordered to investigate and report to the ministry.

Zambry reminded all agencies under his ministry to be alert and conduct background checks before inviting speakers to an event and that they must align with government policy.

Action will be taken against those found to be involved … UM … apologises to all parties UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA