Hold Dr. Bruce Gilley Accountable for False and Misleading Statements on Malaysia


Hold Dr. Bruce Gilley Accountable for False and Misleading Statements on Malaysia
The Issue
Short and Sweet Version:
This petition calls for Dr. Bruce Gilley of Portland State University to publicly clarify or to apologize for his controversial statements made at Universiti Malaya on April 23, 2024 at his talk, "Will Malaysia Become An Active Middle Power?" upon invitation from the Universiti Malaya Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
The comments, replicated in his ResearchGate paper, are as follows:
To be clear, the issue with Gilley's comments is not mere difference of opinion.
These comments falsely implicated Malaysia as actively promoting “a Second Holocaust” against Jewish people, damaging Malaysia’s international reputation; Gilley did not clarify his comments satisfactorily and has thus far failed to take accountability for them and respond further beyond his initial claims except in articles that disparage Malaysia, or take accountability for the claims he made about Malaysia being unsafe for travel demonstrated to be false by the US Embassy despite being contacted via LinkedIn and email.
Gilley's comments undermine academic integrity globally, particularly if Gilley meant his claims literally as a claim of actual and present fact (untrue and lacking factual foundations) or hyperbolically (requires justification, which is without prejudice to academic freedom, but that he has not provided as a responsible or even effective scholar), which is particularly shocking considering that Gilley is a graduate from some of the most respected institutions in the world, namely Princeton University, Oxford University, and University of Toronto.
Accordingly, the matter is a grave concern not merely for Malaysia, but also Gilley’s present and future employers as well as the academic establishment at large, all of which rest upon academic integrity and the reputations of their professors and academic leadership.
The petition therefore also calls for Portland State University to publicly address this issue and for president Richard Corcoran of the New College of Florida, Mr. Gilley's upcoming employer and a Ron DeSantis project, to be aware of the situation of Gilley's integrity as an academic leader and to intervene or reconsider any institutional affiliation with Gilley in the event that he does not clarify his comments, noting that his behaviour of contradicting national embassies and continuing to disparage other nations on the basis of poor foundations rather than legitimate bases upon which Malaysia can and should be criticized that forms a part of Gilley’s academic career but has been rendered irrelevant by his unbecoming and unjustified comments, demonstrating him as a poor envoy of the academic world in general, and of the United States at large.
If you support these causes, please sign this petition and share it with your friends and associates.
Your conversations and sharings are deeply valuable, and each sharing and discussion will help to ensure that academic integrity and Malaysia's international reputation alike are not damaged further by irresponsibly and unfairly made statements produced by a person who, despite graduating from some of the most reputable institutions in the world, has regrettably ended up making false statements about another nation as if they were true, and failing to take responsibility for his actions.
Thank you.
Victor Tan.
P.S. Significantly more context is provided below in the TL;DR Version and Long Version of this petition, including the specific statements made by Gilley. The TL;DR Version will give you sufficient context to get up to speed - the Long Version will go in depth into the specific context of this petition and the arguments for it, providing clear justification for why you should sign this petition if you are on the fence.
You can also watch this video for digestible clarification and context before you sign, and share it in lieu of the petition to raise awareness at the outset and have your friends sign the petition as well.
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TL;DR Version:
Section 1: Summary of the Issue
On April 23, 2024, Dr. Bruce Gilley of Portland State University made controversial statements during a lecture at Universiti Malaya, suggesting that Malaysia promotes a "Second Holocaust" against Jewish people. They are presented below.
Exhibit 1:
Exhibit 2:
As you can see, the quote reads:"More generally, a Malaysia that actively promotes a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be an accepted leader in global affairs and will certainly never be a partner, much less a friend, of the United States."
This statement has been widely criticized for its potential misinformation and insensitivity.
The preceding context, moreover, unfairly paints the actions taken by Putrajaya as reflective of official antisemitism through cherrypicked examples, shown in Exhibit 3.
Exhibit 3:
Although the anecdotes that Gilley has cited in his paper are nominally events that have occurred, he has created a gross mischaracterization of the contexts of the events he cites, concluding by calling Malaysia’s national stance one of antisemitism—a stark mischaracterization of the matter in consideration of Malaysia's actual anti-Zionist stance— revealing that either Mr. Gilley does not know the difference, or worse, did not care.
Accordingly, there is a call for Dr. Gilley to clarify his statements, particularly since the claim is not only serious, but also reflects a confusion between antisemitism, which references racism and discrimination on a national scale against Jewish people in Malaysia and that limited evidence supports, and anti-Zionism, which more accurately characterizes the position of Malaysia.
Collectively, these failures to distinguish antisemitism and anti-Zionism constitute a flagrant and incompetent disregard for evidence and alternate interpretations at best, and disingenuousness at worst - particularly shocking since he has graduated from some of the best institutions in the world, namely Princeton, Oxford, and the University of Toronto - and should be well aware of these distinctions, which should be basic parts of any political scientist’s education.
Section 2: Call to Action
For Dr. Bruce Gilley:
- Publicly clarify the statements made during the lecture, providing evidence or context for the claims.
- If unable to substantiate the claims, issue a formal apology for the misleading statements.
- Accept disciplinary action if the above conditions are not met, to maintain academic integrity.
For Portland State University:
- Conduct a formal review of Dr. Gilley’s conduct in accordance with the university’s Faculty Code of Conduct.
- Issue a public statement on the findings of the review and any actions taken.
For New College of Florida and future employers of Bruce Gilley:
- Review this petition and updates from Portland State University prior to creating any future affiliation, noting that the petition raises concerns of academic and personal integrity and not mere difference of opinion.
- Recognize that advanced degrees do not entail competence.
Section 3: Rationale for Support
This petition does not seek to stifle academic freedom or to silence Dr. Gilley, but to ensure that academic discourse is conducted with integrity and responsibility.
Misrepresentations in academic settings can have serious repercussions, affecting international perceptions and institutional credibility, and the failure of a professor to assert accountability reflects a grave failure in a system designed to perpetuate and spread human knowledge for the betterment of society.
Your support is crucial in upholding the values of truth and accountability in academia globally, as well as vindicating the reputation of Malaysia against fallacious claims of antisemitism.
Thank you in advance!
Section 4: Why You Should Sign
Please sign:
- If you value factual accuracy and integrity in academic discourse globally.
- If you believe in the constructive resolution of controversies through open dialogue.
- If you support maintaining high ethical and evidential standards within educational institutions.
- If you agree that academic freedom should not shield misinformation and that academics must take responsibility for their claims; they should not make unjustified statements with little academic foundation and be allowed to simply run away.
Section 5: Expected Outcomes
- By signing this petition, you will help protect Malaysia from being unfairly characterized as an antisemitic state and meaningfully advocate for Malaysia's international reputation as a country that values humanity rather than one that hates a particular racial, ethnic, or religious group.
- By signing this petition, you contribute to fostering a responsible academic environment globally where truth and clarity prevail over misinformation, which is a global issue; you do not need to be Malaysian to sign this petition - you only need recognize that academics must take responsibility for their statements.
This action not only seeks to rectify the current issue but also to set a precedent for handling future academic misrepresentations effectively on a global scale, thereby contributing to a global public discourse on acceptable speech and thereby help society to better navigate the line between freedom of speech and lies in the future.
Conclusion
Support this petition by signing it today, to ensure that academic statements are held to the highest standard of truth, and to promote a culture where dialogue and integrity lead the way in educational discourse.
After you have signed, please share this petition to all your associates, whether Malaysians or overseas, in academia or in the professional world, and know that this petition has a global context.
It is unacceptable for the world of academia that is responsible for distributing and advancing humanity to be tarred in this fashion, particularly if it is done by an academic who refuses to take responsibility for his statements as he repays kindness with disgrace, mocking a country that had hoped to learn from his expertise!
Let's play our role to uphold the dignity of academic inquiry worldwide, and protect the reputation of the university and of Malaysia as a whole!
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Long Version:
Section 1: Context.
On April 23, 2024, Portland State University professor Bruce Gilley delivered a talk titled “Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power?” upon invitation from the Universiti Malaya Faculty of Social Sciences, which has since expressed its apologies to the public for having invited Gilley to the university in the first place as a result of a statement that Gilley had made, that not only misrepresented the nation of Malaysia but also veered dangerously into the realm of falsehood.
During his presentation, which was also available in a written format on ResearchGate at the time of writing, Dr. Gilley made a statement suggesting that Malaysia promotes a “Second Holocaust” against Jewish people, which he also quoted on X.
The statement is presented below, in both Dr. Gilley’s X post, as well as from the highlighted sentence in the paper that he posted. These are shown below.
Exhibit 1:
Exhibit 2:
Upon Gilley’s publication of the statement, the backlash from the public was intense, causing Universiti Malaya to make a public apology for having invited him, multiple news articles to be published, and for Gilley to leave Malaysia, claiming that the country was not safe for travel - a claim immediately refuted by the US Embassy of Malaysia - and seeking donations from a fundraiser.
Please note that the purpose of this petition is not to undermine academic freedom.
The writer notes Professor Gilley's status as a controversial scholar of colonialism but affirms the Chicago Principles on Free Speech, affirming a recognition that academics should be given the highest latitude to express ideas, even if others do not necessarily agree with them.
Note therefore that the writer of this petition does not entirely agree with a previous Change.org petition made against Gilley decrying his controversial pro-colonial intellectual bent and ultimately leading to the termination of his book series by Rowman and Littlefield, and acknowledges the real concerns of another petition released on Change.org that aimed to supposedly vindicate his personal reputation (albeit while neglecting the genuine concerns about what the first petition declared when it noted "More than one response to his retracted paper revealed the shoddiness of his research, demonstrating that he should not be taken as a scholarly expert in the area of colonialism and anti-colonialism.").
The writer remains agnostic on the question of whether Gilley could have yielded benefit to the students of Universiti Malaya had he continued forward without having made his controversial statements, though affirming Gerak’s recent call against political intervention in education, operationalised by deplatforming speakers at the behest of the Ministry of Higher Education, and its assessment that it will yield mediocrity as fruit.
The writer further notes, perhaps differing with majority opinion, that it could have been productive and healthy for the students at University Malaya to have been exposed to ideas that may not have accorded with their own, noting that healthy disagreement and debate are vital to education and affirming that academic freedom needs to be preserved as it is a vital sine qua non for the development of an educated and socially aware populace.
However, it must be emphasized that academic freedom is a poor excuse for making statements not backed up by evidence, and the author notes that false speech may have consequences on reputation and professional standing, not merely on Malaysia, which has been made into Gilley’s favorite topic in recent days as he parades alleged credibility while continuing to mock it, but also on Portland State University, his employer, for employing an academic that does not seem to respect academic integrity.
Dr. Gilley accuses Malaysia of official anti-semitism, as we can see from the title of his fundraiser, "Dr. Gilley calling out official anti-Semitism in Malaysia", which had raised $601 USD as of the time of retrieval mostly from anonymous donors.
Exhibit 3:
Indeed, this claim of antisemitism is in line with the thrust of his claim:”More generally, a Malaysia that actively promotes a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be an accepted leader in global affairs and will certainly never be a partner, much less a friend, of the United States.”
The statement as presented reflects a very serious accusation, albeit given the ambiguous way it has been worded, it presents a minimum of three distinct possible interpretations:
- A factual and literal claim that Malaysia is literally calling for a second Holocaust, implying that Malaysia is calling for extreme hatred and violence against Jews at large.
- An opinionated, hyperbolic claim that Malaysia seems to be calling for a second Holocaust given its actions as highlighted in Page 11 of his paper, which can be interpreted as evidence of anti-Zionism rather than antisemitism writ large.
- A hypothetical claim that bears the correct interpretation:”IF Malaysia should actively promote a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people, THEN it will never be an accepted leader in global affairs.”
Firstly, such vagueness from someone who is meant to be an academic or an academic leader is frankly confusing at best, and, we hope, not malicious at large; note that in making his accusation, Dr. Gilley made no reference to any definition of antisemitism, showing no awareness of the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism, which has been in place for 8 years and has been affirmed by the US Department of State and recently codified into the Antisemitism Awareness Act, despite the fact that he has a PhD in political science and should abide clarity in discourse through definitions, rather than potentially spread misinformation as a consequence of negligence.
Given the controversial nature of the statement, it is clear that if Professor Gilley is to maintain his academic integrity and to assert that he is in fact a scholar or mentor in any meaningful sense, that he must clarify these views for the public in the event that interpretations 2 or 3 are at hand, or provide specific and unambiguous evidence for interpretation 1 in the event that that is what he intended to communicate; he has not done this, and has effectively negated Malaysia’s right to reply and contravened all expectations that society has of its academics for professionalism and adherence to standards of evidence.
Secondly, such vagueness is unacceptable given that alternative interpretations for actions of Malaysia’s political leaders outlined in Gilley’s paper exist, namely that it is anti-Zionist and opposes the continued occupation of the Gaza Strip, and that both the “Israel cuak” he cites, alongside his quote of Mat Sabu’s declaration that “Israel will soon disappear” are explainable under that framework of anti-Zionism, as well as the cultural heritage of many Malaysians who share in valuing life and humanity and accordingly advocate for the end of the oppression of Palestinians on humanitarian grounds.
Essentially, Gilley unfairly mocks our appreciation for humanity and the intrinsic value of life.
This appreciation for humanity and the intrinsic value of life is the heritage of many Muslims who look to al-Aqsa as a place of spiritual heritage, yet it is also the heritage of all races and religions, the yoke of all who bear the conscience of humanity and thereby the ongoing degradation and devaluation of human life brought forth by the conflict at hand, which has yielded close to 40000 deaths of present (April 30th, 2024) since October 7th, 2023.
Beyond that, the story of humanitarian crisis extends far further as well, back to the time of Nakba in 1948, even further back to the Balfour declaration, and yet further back to the Mandate on Palestine and the downfall of the Ottoman Empire pursuant to a complex admixture of colonial promises exemplified by the McMahon-Hussein correspondence and other matters, to narratives of ownership of land foregone at the behest of a political ideology.
It is the opposition of the ideology of destructive colonialism that characterizes most Malaysians with conscience. It is humanitarianism and compassion for humanity that we bear, not the racist antisemitism and violence that Gilley implies that we would have as he speaks of a “Second Holocaust”, ironically failing to accomplish his designated role of highlighting the benefits of colonialism for a hungry audience waiting to learn as a result of his tremendously creative statements even as he disgustingly tars the national reputation of a country which, once again, we hope was done merely as a consequence of incompetence rather than intelligent and intentional malice.
In a world where the vast majority of Malaysians have never seen a Jewish person, indeed may never see a Jewish person and are more likely to ignore Jewish people or mistake them for people of caucasian descent, can it be that Malaysians as a systematic whole, barring small variations and aberrances from the societally maladjusted, are an antisemitic people that truly hate the Jews and wish for them to die?
The writer considers it unlikely as a whole, and notes that the evidence that Gilley has provided is insufficient to establish the claims that he has made.
Mr. Gilley is entirely welcome to present further evidence to the contrary in the context of a specific debate to demonstrate that Malaysians hate the Jews (they do not), in which the writer would be very happy to participate in the hope that it would enlighten the entirety of the world as to his unjustified opinions and potentially redeem his reputation after having previously falsely declared that Malaysia was unsafe for travel, which had already tarred his integrity.
Gilley’s deflection on X that his controversial statement at Universiti Malaya “reflects my views alone” is unsatisfactory given that he is a professional academic bound to high standards of scholarship and evidence. Further, we hope that this does not demonstrate a deflection from accountability and do not accept this as a valid final response.
If indeed Gilley is trying to deflect responsibility, it is unacceptable.
It is made even more unacceptable given that Gilley bears a declared heritage from institutions such as the University of Toronto, Oxford University, and Princeton University that have contributed towards society extensively in the past, and further bears a professorship that comes with it a responsibility to be accountable to high standards of integrity in spreading knowledge and therefore to serve as an honor to the institutions he has passed through as well as to the students under his care, rather than as a disgrace who spreads misinformation rather than knowledge.
Regrettably, the statement made by Dr. Gilley, bearing dangerous and very serious allegations that if left not clarified or explained, will contravene the sacred trusts placed upon him and set a dangerous precedent for our society and world at large if allowed to continue without clarification.
If Gilley does not clarify his words, the natural consequence is the destruction of the reputation of his employer, Portland State University, who had previously defended his pro-colonialist views but did not then have to deal with his contravention of academic integrity, ethics, and standards of evidence; it is the humiliation of all institutions, past, present, and future that would remain in his presence or in any form of affiliation with him, most immediately the New College of Florida, who has hired him as a Presidential Scholar in Residence for the 2024-2025 academic year.
It is not that attempts have not been made to seek clarification for the statement that Dr. Gilley has made. Indeed, multiple requests for a debate and interview for clarification have been made of Dr. Gilley on my part as a citizen of Malaysia through LinkedIn by sending InMails to his LinkedIn profile, all of which have been ignored, as well as to his official email address. Neither have been responded to.
Certainly, Dr. Gilley is not obligated to respond to me as a private individual and I will not pursue the matter further in private communications, acknowledging his privacy as an individual.
Given however that the matter is a matter of public concern, and ultimately concerns his reputation as well as the university, Portland State University, it is desirable that he clarify rather than simply make false statements about the safety of a country, run away, and proceed to continue disparaging its administration on the basis of reasoning that does not seem becoming of the storied intellectual heritage that he is supposed to have obtained.
Accordingly, I have chosen to pursue this matter publicly and will engage him directly in the event that he responds, doing so as a representative of Malaysia.
If you had thought not to sign this petition on the basis of ‘academic freedom’ as your reason, do think again: you are effectively saying that even if false statements are made in our society, that we can avoid engaging with that information simply because it is considered supposed academic freedom and accountability need not be present.
Section 2: Actions sought:
This petition calls upon a minimum of three decision-makers to take action.
The first of these decision-makers is Professor Bruce Gilley, and the second is his current employer, Portland State University. The last is Gilley's future employers and affiliated parties.
- The petition calls for Professor Gilley to perform one of the two following courses of action:
a) Clarify the statement he made on 23rd April, 2024 at the University of Malaya either through a written statement or in the context of a public debate, AND/OR apologize for having made the statement.
b) In the event of failing to accomplish item 1a) (which is not particularly difficult and in no way negates Professor Gilley’s academic freedom), to either resign from the Portland State University or minimally receive disciplinary action with no complaint for failing to take accountability for his incendiary statement, particularly in the context of his role and the expectations placed upon him by academic and professional standards, and continuing to mock and disparage the nation of Malaysia on the basis of shaky grounds on his X feed in a presumptuous and disgraceful fashion that extends beyond the dignity that is expected of a professor under guise of ‘academic freedom’, in apparent violation of Portland State University’s Faculty Code of Conduct. - The petition calls for Portland State University to:
a) Initiate a formal review of Professor Gilley’s actions, pursuant to the university’s Faculty Code of Conduct, to assess whether his statements and behavior align with the ethical standards and professional responsibilities expected of faculty members, particularly focusing on intellectual honesty and the impact of public statements on the university’s reputation.
Of particular note are Section 1b), outlining Gilley’s responsibilies as a scholar of the university, Section 1f), concerning general conduct; we note the subsection TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT AND THE IMPOSITION OF OTHER SANCTIONS FOR CAUSE, discipline code 577-041-0010, which highlights under clause 2a) that a “default of academic integrity” is grounds for sanction for cause, as well as other forms of disciplinary action relevant to this case.
b) Provide a public response pursuant to the outcome of the review, issuing a statement regarding the university’s stance on the matter, and foster a positive dialogue on accountability and the value of academic integrity. - The petition calls for the New College of Florida and Gilley's future employers to:
a) Consider the information presented in this petition, along with the results of any investigations or reviews conducted by Portland State University, before making a decision regarding future affiliations with Professor Bruce Gilley. It is imperative that these institutions critically evaluate the potential risks associated with engaging someone who has been publicly accused of spreading misinformation and failing to uphold academic standards.
This assessment should consider the impact on their own institutional reputations and the broader academic community beyond simplistic designations about how GIlley in his controversial leanings can be an advocate against perceived ~wokeness~, which is intellectually appealing but ultimately shallow.b) Develop clear guidelines and expectations for faculty conduct, especially concerning public statements and academic integrity. These should aim to prevent similar incidents and ensure that all affiliated scholars uphold the highest ethical and professional standards.
Future employers should communicate these expectations clearly to all potential hires and enforce them rigorously. Difference of opinion is acceptable and healthy; a lack of academic integrity is not.
Section 3: Why Support This Petition?
I started this petition as a Malaysian who loves my country and knows that it is not an anti-Semitic place by and large contrary to what Dr. Gilley has been claiming.
I disagree with Dr. Gilley’s characterization of Malaysia as an Islamofascist state, which he continues to perpetuate even as he makes tweets suggesting that Indians and Chinese move out of Malaysia, reflective of unfair diplomatic and foreign intervention only superficially reflective of ‘academic freedom’ that had long been discredited by the time he falsely claimed that Malaysia was unsafe for travel and was contradicted by the US Embassy of Malaysia. Meanwhile, Dr. Gilley continues to write mediocre articles about even as he pretends that he is a credible scholar. There is no shame in being mediocre and if Gilley cannot go beyond being mediocre, there is nothing bad about that. However, there are no grounds or forms of amenable logic for Dr. Gilley to make false accusations in an attempt to escape that mediocrity.
You should support this petition and sign it if any of the following apply to you:
- You are a Malaysian who wants Malaysia's reputation to be vindicated and accept that this matter must be escalated in order for something to be done, involving not just our personal feelings alone, but also a national conversation.
- You are a citizen of any nation that does not appreciate having aspersions being cast upon it by irresponsible individuals.
- You are an academic and find Dr. Gilley's statements both unwarranted and inconscionable, unsupported by evidence in the absence of clarification.
- You are a member of the public who seeks clarification from a member of the academic establishment as to the nature of his statement.
- You believe that academic freedom must come hand-in-hand with the responsibility to share correct and proper information.
- You disagree that anti-Semitism is the same as anti-Zionism, and that calling for the end of the deaths of children is not the same as calling for a repetition of the events of the Holocaust.
- You advocate for truth to prevail over falsehood and refuse to accept the deflections of an alleged academic as acceptable, whether you are a student of Gilley's, a Malaysian, or a current or future employer.
- You recognize that prestigious university degrees do not indicate the capability of a person to participate fruitfully in debate and seek accountability over reputation.
- You choose to take action and thereby vote that, as a society, we can clarify this matter.
The following outcomes are expected from this petition:
- The name of Malaysia is to be redeemed from the dreadful claim that has been made in virtue of how we have tried to engage Dr. Gilley in a frank discussion of his claims, whether he responds or does not respond.
- Accountability to be taken for the statement made by Dr. Gilley in the event that he is to retain his academic integrity as a serious professor of any sort rather than as the international academic pariah he may well become if he rejects this invitation.
- A continued dialogue to take place, pursuant to clarification by Dr. Gilley, that may extend the boundaries of our collective wisdom.
- Institutional awareness of the issue on the part of the Portland State University of the behavior of one of their tenured professors, and accountability to be taken on the University’s part.
The writer does not, in general, support the silencing of Dr. Gilley simply on account of his voicing an opinion that we disagree with or his controversial academic career, to the extent that that opinion is grounded on the basis of actual fact and evidence, rather than blatant and flagrant misinterpretation of the matters at hand.
The distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism is critical, as conflating these concepts can lead to misunderstandings and misuse of terms with serious implications.
This petition seeks to uphold the integrity of academic and public discourse by demanding that complex issues are discussed with accuracy and respect for the facts and not by mere suggestion and failure to take accountability by someone whose role is meant to be that of a respected academic.
Ultimately, this petition emerges from a deep need for clarity and responsibility in academic discourse and public statements made by academics. It addresses Dr. Gilley's controversial remarks and calls for an accountable approach to public commentary and the spread of information. By signing this petition, you are contributing to a movement that values truth and insists on a responsible exchange of ideas, especially where such exchanges can significantly impact public opinion and international relations.
In essence, this petition is not just a call for action—it is a declaration of our commitment as a society to ensure that our academics and institutions operate transparently and responsibly. By participating, you help to uphold these values and promote a culture of accountability and truth.
Thank you for signing in advance!
After you have signed, please share this petition or this video, which gives a quick primer on all the issues, to all your associates, whether Malaysians or overseas, in academia or in the professional world if you resonate with it. If you wish to contribute towards our shared goal on a deeper level, do also consider promoting this petition so that it will reach a much wider audience, achieving international scale, scope, and distribution.
With my best,
Victor Tan.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victortanws/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VictorTan

1,545
The Issue
Short and Sweet Version:
This petition calls for Dr. Bruce Gilley of Portland State University to publicly clarify or to apologize for his controversial statements made at Universiti Malaya on April 23, 2024 at his talk, "Will Malaysia Become An Active Middle Power?" upon invitation from the Universiti Malaya Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
The comments, replicated in his ResearchGate paper, are as follows:
To be clear, the issue with Gilley's comments is not mere difference of opinion.
These comments falsely implicated Malaysia as actively promoting “a Second Holocaust” against Jewish people, damaging Malaysia’s international reputation; Gilley did not clarify his comments satisfactorily and has thus far failed to take accountability for them and respond further beyond his initial claims except in articles that disparage Malaysia, or take accountability for the claims he made about Malaysia being unsafe for travel demonstrated to be false by the US Embassy despite being contacted via LinkedIn and email.
Gilley's comments undermine academic integrity globally, particularly if Gilley meant his claims literally as a claim of actual and present fact (untrue and lacking factual foundations) or hyperbolically (requires justification, which is without prejudice to academic freedom, but that he has not provided as a responsible or even effective scholar), which is particularly shocking considering that Gilley is a graduate from some of the most respected institutions in the world, namely Princeton University, Oxford University, and University of Toronto.
Accordingly, the matter is a grave concern not merely for Malaysia, but also Gilley’s present and future employers as well as the academic establishment at large, all of which rest upon academic integrity and the reputations of their professors and academic leadership.
The petition therefore also calls for Portland State University to publicly address this issue and for president Richard Corcoran of the New College of Florida, Mr. Gilley's upcoming employer and a Ron DeSantis project, to be aware of the situation of Gilley's integrity as an academic leader and to intervene or reconsider any institutional affiliation with Gilley in the event that he does not clarify his comments, noting that his behaviour of contradicting national embassies and continuing to disparage other nations on the basis of poor foundations rather than legitimate bases upon which Malaysia can and should be criticized that forms a part of Gilley’s academic career but has been rendered irrelevant by his unbecoming and unjustified comments, demonstrating him as a poor envoy of the academic world in general, and of the United States at large.
If you support these causes, please sign this petition and share it with your friends and associates.
Your conversations and sharings are deeply valuable, and each sharing and discussion will help to ensure that academic integrity and Malaysia's international reputation alike are not damaged further by irresponsibly and unfairly made statements produced by a person who, despite graduating from some of the most reputable institutions in the world, has regrettably ended up making false statements about another nation as if they were true, and failing to take responsibility for his actions.
Thank you.
Victor Tan.
P.S. Significantly more context is provided below in the TL;DR Version and Long Version of this petition, including the specific statements made by Gilley. The TL;DR Version will give you sufficient context to get up to speed - the Long Version will go in depth into the specific context of this petition and the arguments for it, providing clear justification for why you should sign this petition if you are on the fence.
You can also watch this video for digestible clarification and context before you sign, and share it in lieu of the petition to raise awareness at the outset and have your friends sign the petition as well.
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TL;DR Version:
Section 1: Summary of the Issue
On April 23, 2024, Dr. Bruce Gilley of Portland State University made controversial statements during a lecture at Universiti Malaya, suggesting that Malaysia promotes a "Second Holocaust" against Jewish people. They are presented below.
Exhibit 1:
Exhibit 2:
As you can see, the quote reads:"More generally, a Malaysia that actively promotes a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be an accepted leader in global affairs and will certainly never be a partner, much less a friend, of the United States."
This statement has been widely criticized for its potential misinformation and insensitivity.
The preceding context, moreover, unfairly paints the actions taken by Putrajaya as reflective of official antisemitism through cherrypicked examples, shown in Exhibit 3.
Exhibit 3:
Although the anecdotes that Gilley has cited in his paper are nominally events that have occurred, he has created a gross mischaracterization of the contexts of the events he cites, concluding by calling Malaysia’s national stance one of antisemitism—a stark mischaracterization of the matter in consideration of Malaysia's actual anti-Zionist stance— revealing that either Mr. Gilley does not know the difference, or worse, did not care.
Accordingly, there is a call for Dr. Gilley to clarify his statements, particularly since the claim is not only serious, but also reflects a confusion between antisemitism, which references racism and discrimination on a national scale against Jewish people in Malaysia and that limited evidence supports, and anti-Zionism, which more accurately characterizes the position of Malaysia.
Collectively, these failures to distinguish antisemitism and anti-Zionism constitute a flagrant and incompetent disregard for evidence and alternate interpretations at best, and disingenuousness at worst - particularly shocking since he has graduated from some of the best institutions in the world, namely Princeton, Oxford, and the University of Toronto - and should be well aware of these distinctions, which should be basic parts of any political scientist’s education.
Section 2: Call to Action
For Dr. Bruce Gilley:
- Publicly clarify the statements made during the lecture, providing evidence or context for the claims.
- If unable to substantiate the claims, issue a formal apology for the misleading statements.
- Accept disciplinary action if the above conditions are not met, to maintain academic integrity.
For Portland State University:
- Conduct a formal review of Dr. Gilley’s conduct in accordance with the university’s Faculty Code of Conduct.
- Issue a public statement on the findings of the review and any actions taken.
For New College of Florida and future employers of Bruce Gilley:
- Review this petition and updates from Portland State University prior to creating any future affiliation, noting that the petition raises concerns of academic and personal integrity and not mere difference of opinion.
- Recognize that advanced degrees do not entail competence.
Section 3: Rationale for Support
This petition does not seek to stifle academic freedom or to silence Dr. Gilley, but to ensure that academic discourse is conducted with integrity and responsibility.
Misrepresentations in academic settings can have serious repercussions, affecting international perceptions and institutional credibility, and the failure of a professor to assert accountability reflects a grave failure in a system designed to perpetuate and spread human knowledge for the betterment of society.
Your support is crucial in upholding the values of truth and accountability in academia globally, as well as vindicating the reputation of Malaysia against fallacious claims of antisemitism.
Thank you in advance!
Section 4: Why You Should Sign
Please sign:
- If you value factual accuracy and integrity in academic discourse globally.
- If you believe in the constructive resolution of controversies through open dialogue.
- If you support maintaining high ethical and evidential standards within educational institutions.
- If you agree that academic freedom should not shield misinformation and that academics must take responsibility for their claims; they should not make unjustified statements with little academic foundation and be allowed to simply run away.
Section 5: Expected Outcomes
- By signing this petition, you will help protect Malaysia from being unfairly characterized as an antisemitic state and meaningfully advocate for Malaysia's international reputation as a country that values humanity rather than one that hates a particular racial, ethnic, or religious group.
- By signing this petition, you contribute to fostering a responsible academic environment globally where truth and clarity prevail over misinformation, which is a global issue; you do not need to be Malaysian to sign this petition - you only need recognize that academics must take responsibility for their statements.
This action not only seeks to rectify the current issue but also to set a precedent for handling future academic misrepresentations effectively on a global scale, thereby contributing to a global public discourse on acceptable speech and thereby help society to better navigate the line between freedom of speech and lies in the future.
Conclusion
Support this petition by signing it today, to ensure that academic statements are held to the highest standard of truth, and to promote a culture where dialogue and integrity lead the way in educational discourse.
After you have signed, please share this petition to all your associates, whether Malaysians or overseas, in academia or in the professional world, and know that this petition has a global context.
It is unacceptable for the world of academia that is responsible for distributing and advancing humanity to be tarred in this fashion, particularly if it is done by an academic who refuses to take responsibility for his statements as he repays kindness with disgrace, mocking a country that had hoped to learn from his expertise!
Let's play our role to uphold the dignity of academic inquiry worldwide, and protect the reputation of the university and of Malaysia as a whole!
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Long Version:
Section 1: Context.
On April 23, 2024, Portland State University professor Bruce Gilley delivered a talk titled “Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power?” upon invitation from the Universiti Malaya Faculty of Social Sciences, which has since expressed its apologies to the public for having invited Gilley to the university in the first place as a result of a statement that Gilley had made, that not only misrepresented the nation of Malaysia but also veered dangerously into the realm of falsehood.
During his presentation, which was also available in a written format on ResearchGate at the time of writing, Dr. Gilley made a statement suggesting that Malaysia promotes a “Second Holocaust” against Jewish people, which he also quoted on X.
The statement is presented below, in both Dr. Gilley’s X post, as well as from the highlighted sentence in the paper that he posted. These are shown below.
Exhibit 1:
Exhibit 2:
Upon Gilley’s publication of the statement, the backlash from the public was intense, causing Universiti Malaya to make a public apology for having invited him, multiple news articles to be published, and for Gilley to leave Malaysia, claiming that the country was not safe for travel - a claim immediately refuted by the US Embassy of Malaysia - and seeking donations from a fundraiser.
Please note that the purpose of this petition is not to undermine academic freedom.
The writer notes Professor Gilley's status as a controversial scholar of colonialism but affirms the Chicago Principles on Free Speech, affirming a recognition that academics should be given the highest latitude to express ideas, even if others do not necessarily agree with them.
Note therefore that the writer of this petition does not entirely agree with a previous Change.org petition made against Gilley decrying his controversial pro-colonial intellectual bent and ultimately leading to the termination of his book series by Rowman and Littlefield, and acknowledges the real concerns of another petition released on Change.org that aimed to supposedly vindicate his personal reputation (albeit while neglecting the genuine concerns about what the first petition declared when it noted "More than one response to his retracted paper revealed the shoddiness of his research, demonstrating that he should not be taken as a scholarly expert in the area of colonialism and anti-colonialism.").
The writer remains agnostic on the question of whether Gilley could have yielded benefit to the students of Universiti Malaya had he continued forward without having made his controversial statements, though affirming Gerak’s recent call against political intervention in education, operationalised by deplatforming speakers at the behest of the Ministry of Higher Education, and its assessment that it will yield mediocrity as fruit.
The writer further notes, perhaps differing with majority opinion, that it could have been productive and healthy for the students at University Malaya to have been exposed to ideas that may not have accorded with their own, noting that healthy disagreement and debate are vital to education and affirming that academic freedom needs to be preserved as it is a vital sine qua non for the development of an educated and socially aware populace.
However, it must be emphasized that academic freedom is a poor excuse for making statements not backed up by evidence, and the author notes that false speech may have consequences on reputation and professional standing, not merely on Malaysia, which has been made into Gilley’s favorite topic in recent days as he parades alleged credibility while continuing to mock it, but also on Portland State University, his employer, for employing an academic that does not seem to respect academic integrity.
Dr. Gilley accuses Malaysia of official anti-semitism, as we can see from the title of his fundraiser, "Dr. Gilley calling out official anti-Semitism in Malaysia", which had raised $601 USD as of the time of retrieval mostly from anonymous donors.
Exhibit 3:
Indeed, this claim of antisemitism is in line with the thrust of his claim:”More generally, a Malaysia that actively promotes a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people will never be an accepted leader in global affairs and will certainly never be a partner, much less a friend, of the United States.”
The statement as presented reflects a very serious accusation, albeit given the ambiguous way it has been worded, it presents a minimum of three distinct possible interpretations:
- A factual and literal claim that Malaysia is literally calling for a second Holocaust, implying that Malaysia is calling for extreme hatred and violence against Jews at large.
- An opinionated, hyperbolic claim that Malaysia seems to be calling for a second Holocaust given its actions as highlighted in Page 11 of his paper, which can be interpreted as evidence of anti-Zionism rather than antisemitism writ large.
- A hypothetical claim that bears the correct interpretation:”IF Malaysia should actively promote a Second Holocaust against the Jewish people, THEN it will never be an accepted leader in global affairs.”
Firstly, such vagueness from someone who is meant to be an academic or an academic leader is frankly confusing at best, and, we hope, not malicious at large; note that in making his accusation, Dr. Gilley made no reference to any definition of antisemitism, showing no awareness of the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism, which has been in place for 8 years and has been affirmed by the US Department of State and recently codified into the Antisemitism Awareness Act, despite the fact that he has a PhD in political science and should abide clarity in discourse through definitions, rather than potentially spread misinformation as a consequence of negligence.
Given the controversial nature of the statement, it is clear that if Professor Gilley is to maintain his academic integrity and to assert that he is in fact a scholar or mentor in any meaningful sense, that he must clarify these views for the public in the event that interpretations 2 or 3 are at hand, or provide specific and unambiguous evidence for interpretation 1 in the event that that is what he intended to communicate; he has not done this, and has effectively negated Malaysia’s right to reply and contravened all expectations that society has of its academics for professionalism and adherence to standards of evidence.
Secondly, such vagueness is unacceptable given that alternative interpretations for actions of Malaysia’s political leaders outlined in Gilley’s paper exist, namely that it is anti-Zionist and opposes the continued occupation of the Gaza Strip, and that both the “Israel cuak” he cites, alongside his quote of Mat Sabu’s declaration that “Israel will soon disappear” are explainable under that framework of anti-Zionism, as well as the cultural heritage of many Malaysians who share in valuing life and humanity and accordingly advocate for the end of the oppression of Palestinians on humanitarian grounds.
Essentially, Gilley unfairly mocks our appreciation for humanity and the intrinsic value of life.
This appreciation for humanity and the intrinsic value of life is the heritage of many Muslims who look to al-Aqsa as a place of spiritual heritage, yet it is also the heritage of all races and religions, the yoke of all who bear the conscience of humanity and thereby the ongoing degradation and devaluation of human life brought forth by the conflict at hand, which has yielded close to 40000 deaths of present (April 30th, 2024) since October 7th, 2023.
Beyond that, the story of humanitarian crisis extends far further as well, back to the time of Nakba in 1948, even further back to the Balfour declaration, and yet further back to the Mandate on Palestine and the downfall of the Ottoman Empire pursuant to a complex admixture of colonial promises exemplified by the McMahon-Hussein correspondence and other matters, to narratives of ownership of land foregone at the behest of a political ideology.
It is the opposition of the ideology of destructive colonialism that characterizes most Malaysians with conscience. It is humanitarianism and compassion for humanity that we bear, not the racist antisemitism and violence that Gilley implies that we would have as he speaks of a “Second Holocaust”, ironically failing to accomplish his designated role of highlighting the benefits of colonialism for a hungry audience waiting to learn as a result of his tremendously creative statements even as he disgustingly tars the national reputation of a country which, once again, we hope was done merely as a consequence of incompetence rather than intelligent and intentional malice.
In a world where the vast majority of Malaysians have never seen a Jewish person, indeed may never see a Jewish person and are more likely to ignore Jewish people or mistake them for people of caucasian descent, can it be that Malaysians as a systematic whole, barring small variations and aberrances from the societally maladjusted, are an antisemitic people that truly hate the Jews and wish for them to die?
The writer considers it unlikely as a whole, and notes that the evidence that Gilley has provided is insufficient to establish the claims that he has made.
Mr. Gilley is entirely welcome to present further evidence to the contrary in the context of a specific debate to demonstrate that Malaysians hate the Jews (they do not), in which the writer would be very happy to participate in the hope that it would enlighten the entirety of the world as to his unjustified opinions and potentially redeem his reputation after having previously falsely declared that Malaysia was unsafe for travel, which had already tarred his integrity.
Gilley’s deflection on X that his controversial statement at Universiti Malaya “reflects my views alone” is unsatisfactory given that he is a professional academic bound to high standards of scholarship and evidence. Further, we hope that this does not demonstrate a deflection from accountability and do not accept this as a valid final response.
If indeed Gilley is trying to deflect responsibility, it is unacceptable.
It is made even more unacceptable given that Gilley bears a declared heritage from institutions such as the University of Toronto, Oxford University, and Princeton University that have contributed towards society extensively in the past, and further bears a professorship that comes with it a responsibility to be accountable to high standards of integrity in spreading knowledge and therefore to serve as an honor to the institutions he has passed through as well as to the students under his care, rather than as a disgrace who spreads misinformation rather than knowledge.
Regrettably, the statement made by Dr. Gilley, bearing dangerous and very serious allegations that if left not clarified or explained, will contravene the sacred trusts placed upon him and set a dangerous precedent for our society and world at large if allowed to continue without clarification.
If Gilley does not clarify his words, the natural consequence is the destruction of the reputation of his employer, Portland State University, who had previously defended his pro-colonialist views but did not then have to deal with his contravention of academic integrity, ethics, and standards of evidence; it is the humiliation of all institutions, past, present, and future that would remain in his presence or in any form of affiliation with him, most immediately the New College of Florida, who has hired him as a Presidential Scholar in Residence for the 2024-2025 academic year.
It is not that attempts have not been made to seek clarification for the statement that Dr. Gilley has made. Indeed, multiple requests for a debate and interview for clarification have been made of Dr. Gilley on my part as a citizen of Malaysia through LinkedIn by sending InMails to his LinkedIn profile, all of which have been ignored, as well as to his official email address. Neither have been responded to.
Certainly, Dr. Gilley is not obligated to respond to me as a private individual and I will not pursue the matter further in private communications, acknowledging his privacy as an individual.
Given however that the matter is a matter of public concern, and ultimately concerns his reputation as well as the university, Portland State University, it is desirable that he clarify rather than simply make false statements about the safety of a country, run away, and proceed to continue disparaging its administration on the basis of reasoning that does not seem becoming of the storied intellectual heritage that he is supposed to have obtained.
Accordingly, I have chosen to pursue this matter publicly and will engage him directly in the event that he responds, doing so as a representative of Malaysia.
If you had thought not to sign this petition on the basis of ‘academic freedom’ as your reason, do think again: you are effectively saying that even if false statements are made in our society, that we can avoid engaging with that information simply because it is considered supposed academic freedom and accountability need not be present.
Section 2: Actions sought:
This petition calls upon a minimum of three decision-makers to take action.
The first of these decision-makers is Professor Bruce Gilley, and the second is his current employer, Portland State University. The last is Gilley's future employers and affiliated parties.
- The petition calls for Professor Gilley to perform one of the two following courses of action:
a) Clarify the statement he made on 23rd April, 2024 at the University of Malaya either through a written statement or in the context of a public debate, AND/OR apologize for having made the statement.
b) In the event of failing to accomplish item 1a) (which is not particularly difficult and in no way negates Professor Gilley’s academic freedom), to either resign from the Portland State University or minimally receive disciplinary action with no complaint for failing to take accountability for his incendiary statement, particularly in the context of his role and the expectations placed upon him by academic and professional standards, and continuing to mock and disparage the nation of Malaysia on the basis of shaky grounds on his X feed in a presumptuous and disgraceful fashion that extends beyond the dignity that is expected of a professor under guise of ‘academic freedom’, in apparent violation of Portland State University’s Faculty Code of Conduct. - The petition calls for Portland State University to:
a) Initiate a formal review of Professor Gilley’s actions, pursuant to the university’s Faculty Code of Conduct, to assess whether his statements and behavior align with the ethical standards and professional responsibilities expected of faculty members, particularly focusing on intellectual honesty and the impact of public statements on the university’s reputation.
Of particular note are Section 1b), outlining Gilley’s responsibilies as a scholar of the university, Section 1f), concerning general conduct; we note the subsection TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT AND THE IMPOSITION OF OTHER SANCTIONS FOR CAUSE, discipline code 577-041-0010, which highlights under clause 2a) that a “default of academic integrity” is grounds for sanction for cause, as well as other forms of disciplinary action relevant to this case.
b) Provide a public response pursuant to the outcome of the review, issuing a statement regarding the university’s stance on the matter, and foster a positive dialogue on accountability and the value of academic integrity. - The petition calls for the New College of Florida and Gilley's future employers to:
a) Consider the information presented in this petition, along with the results of any investigations or reviews conducted by Portland State University, before making a decision regarding future affiliations with Professor Bruce Gilley. It is imperative that these institutions critically evaluate the potential risks associated with engaging someone who has been publicly accused of spreading misinformation and failing to uphold academic standards.
This assessment should consider the impact on their own institutional reputations and the broader academic community beyond simplistic designations about how GIlley in his controversial leanings can be an advocate against perceived ~wokeness~, which is intellectually appealing but ultimately shallow.b) Develop clear guidelines and expectations for faculty conduct, especially concerning public statements and academic integrity. These should aim to prevent similar incidents and ensure that all affiliated scholars uphold the highest ethical and professional standards.
Future employers should communicate these expectations clearly to all potential hires and enforce them rigorously. Difference of opinion is acceptable and healthy; a lack of academic integrity is not.
Section 3: Why Support This Petition?
I started this petition as a Malaysian who loves my country and knows that it is not an anti-Semitic place by and large contrary to what Dr. Gilley has been claiming.
I disagree with Dr. Gilley’s characterization of Malaysia as an Islamofascist state, which he continues to perpetuate even as he makes tweets suggesting that Indians and Chinese move out of Malaysia, reflective of unfair diplomatic and foreign intervention only superficially reflective of ‘academic freedom’ that had long been discredited by the time he falsely claimed that Malaysia was unsafe for travel and was contradicted by the US Embassy of Malaysia. Meanwhile, Dr. Gilley continues to write mediocre articles about even as he pretends that he is a credible scholar. There is no shame in being mediocre and if Gilley cannot go beyond being mediocre, there is nothing bad about that. However, there are no grounds or forms of amenable logic for Dr. Gilley to make false accusations in an attempt to escape that mediocrity.
You should support this petition and sign it if any of the following apply to you:
- You are a Malaysian who wants Malaysia's reputation to be vindicated and accept that this matter must be escalated in order for something to be done, involving not just our personal feelings alone, but also a national conversation.
- You are a citizen of any nation that does not appreciate having aspersions being cast upon it by irresponsible individuals.
- You are an academic and find Dr. Gilley's statements both unwarranted and inconscionable, unsupported by evidence in the absence of clarification.
- You are a member of the public who seeks clarification from a member of the academic establishment as to the nature of his statement.
- You believe that academic freedom must come hand-in-hand with the responsibility to share correct and proper information.
- You disagree that anti-Semitism is the same as anti-Zionism, and that calling for the end of the deaths of children is not the same as calling for a repetition of the events of the Holocaust.
- You advocate for truth to prevail over falsehood and refuse to accept the deflections of an alleged academic as acceptable, whether you are a student of Gilley's, a Malaysian, or a current or future employer.
- You recognize that prestigious university degrees do not indicate the capability of a person to participate fruitfully in debate and seek accountability over reputation.
- You choose to take action and thereby vote that, as a society, we can clarify this matter.
The following outcomes are expected from this petition:
- The name of Malaysia is to be redeemed from the dreadful claim that has been made in virtue of how we have tried to engage Dr. Gilley in a frank discussion of his claims, whether he responds or does not respond.
- Accountability to be taken for the statement made by Dr. Gilley in the event that he is to retain his academic integrity as a serious professor of any sort rather than as the international academic pariah he may well become if he rejects this invitation.
- A continued dialogue to take place, pursuant to clarification by Dr. Gilley, that may extend the boundaries of our collective wisdom.
- Institutional awareness of the issue on the part of the Portland State University of the behavior of one of their tenured professors, and accountability to be taken on the University’s part.
The writer does not, in general, support the silencing of Dr. Gilley simply on account of his voicing an opinion that we disagree with or his controversial academic career, to the extent that that opinion is grounded on the basis of actual fact and evidence, rather than blatant and flagrant misinterpretation of the matters at hand.
The distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism is critical, as conflating these concepts can lead to misunderstandings and misuse of terms with serious implications.
This petition seeks to uphold the integrity of academic and public discourse by demanding that complex issues are discussed with accuracy and respect for the facts and not by mere suggestion and failure to take accountability by someone whose role is meant to be that of a respected academic.
Ultimately, this petition emerges from a deep need for clarity and responsibility in academic discourse and public statements made by academics. It addresses Dr. Gilley's controversial remarks and calls for an accountable approach to public commentary and the spread of information. By signing this petition, you are contributing to a movement that values truth and insists on a responsible exchange of ideas, especially where such exchanges can significantly impact public opinion and international relations.
In essence, this petition is not just a call for action—it is a declaration of our commitment as a society to ensure that our academics and institutions operate transparently and responsibly. By participating, you help to uphold these values and promote a culture of accountability and truth.
Thank you for signing in advance!
After you have signed, please share this petition or this video, which gives a quick primer on all the issues, to all your associates, whether Malaysians or overseas, in academia or in the professional world if you resonate with it. If you wish to contribute towards our shared goal on a deeper level, do also consider promoting this petition so that it will reach a much wider audience, achieving international scale, scope, and distribution.
With my best,
Victor Tan.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victortanws/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VictorTan

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Petition created on 30 April 2024