Malaysia’s universities are climbing the ranking, but are they intellectually free? — Khoo Ying Hooi (opens original article in a new tab)

Malaysia's universities are rising in global rankings, but the article questions whether they are intellectually free, citing regional trends of academic freedom restrictions.

• Malaysia's universities improved in global rankings, with Universiti Malaya reaching 56th in QS 2027 and Universiti Teknologi Petronas entering Asia's top 40 in THE 2026.
• The article raises concerns about academic freedom in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, noting restrictions through procedures rather than overt censorship, such as delayed forums and topic sensitivity warnings.
• It highlights regional trends of academic freedom erosion, including legal actions against activists in the Philippines, arrests in Indonesia, and restrictions under national security laws in Thailand.