Kuala Lampur, Oct. 21 -- We spend millions educating young Malaysians to think critically, yet the moment one asks an uncomfortable question, we seem more interested in questioning the student than answering the question. What an extraordinary contradiction! Our universities proudly advertise critical thinking, intellectual freedom and independent judgment as essential graduate qualities. Yet when these qualities are demonstrated beyond the safety of classroom discussions, they suddenly become controversial. Have we been teaching our students to think, or merely training them to know when to keep their mouths shut?

The recent public reaction to a university student's question concerning fundraising to help former Prime Minister Datuk Ser...