PUTRAJAYA: The Higher Education Ministry will not pursue further action against US academic Bruce Gilley, who reportedly made controversial and provocative statements during a lecture at Universiti Malaya (UM) on Tuesday (April 23).

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic) said this was because Gilley had already left the country.

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“We (the ministry) are not even contemplating any form of action,” he told reporters during the ministry's Hari Raya Open House here on Friday (April 26).

He also said he is still waiting for UM's full report on the matter.

Zambry added that despite the Gilley incident, higher education institutions will not need to refer to the ministry if they want to invite international speakers.

“The universities’ freedom must be respected,” he said, adding that it is imperative that thorough background checks are conducted.

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He said the ministry would not stop credible international experts from speaking in Malaysia.

He also said that while the ministry would not interfere in the selection of these academics, their views should not go against important Malaysian positions – if they are pro-Zionist, for example.

Calling Gilley a “mediocre lecturer”, Zambry added: “We have so many professors in Malaysia much better than this guy (sic)."

During his talk, Gilley was said to have downplayed Malaysia’s ties with the United States.

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He had also claimed that Malaysia had pushed for a “second holocaust against the Jewish people”, which has drawn massive criticism online.

Instead of apologising, Gilley then sparked further uproar when he accused the government of whipping up a mob against him and claiming that Malaysia was "not a safe country to travel to currently" in a post on X.