PETALING JAYA: Ku Klux Klan (KKK) costumes were part of an assignment to instil critical thinking and raise awareness on human rights issues at the international level, says Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
The university said the students chose to present issues related to racial discrimination and hatred based on skin colour, which are among the human rights violations that have occurred in several countries.
“The costumes and visual elements used are intended to help increase understanding and appreciation of the topics presented, as well as provide a more comprehensive picture from a historical and global perspective,” it said in a statement Tuesday (April 15).
The university was commenting on a video of students dressed in white clothes and conical masks, similar to those used by the KKK, that went viral.
The video is actually from an assignment for the Contemporary Global and Legal Issues course at the UiTM Selangor Branch Foundation Centre, Dengkil campus.
The university stressed that the lecturers and faculty ensured that the presentation was conducted in a controlled manner and based on academic principles, without touching on any sensitivities related to religion, culture or race.
“For your information, no elements of insult towards any religion were mentioned or discussed throughout the session.
“UiTM also stressed that it always emphasises universal values such as tolerance, respect and intercultural sensitivity in all academic and co-curricular activities.
“The institution remains committed to an educational approach that is responsible, ethical and oriented towards critical thinking in order to form a generation of students who are mature and sensitive to global issues,” it added.
UiTM also called on all parties to assess incidents like this within an academic framework and not interpret them outside of their original context, in line with the spirit of inclusive and dynamic education that is the backbone of the country's higher education.
The KKK is an American Protestant-led Christian extremist, white supremacist, far-right hate group.
It was founded in 1865 and used to resort to terrorism, violence and acts of intimidation to oppress their victims, mostly African Americans, Jews and Catholics.
