KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has voiced his disappointment over the lack of integrity of several prominent and influential academicians who kept silent over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal during the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
"It was the biggest robbery in history, which took place not only due to the greed of several politicians, but the silence of (several) academicians.
"There were even those willing to be a cheap tool (of politicians) in the name (of siding with those supposedly championing issues of) race and religion.
"Big turbans, long flowing beards and equipped with degrees, but without ethics and soul. Academicians from the public sector were not only quiet but were in cahoots, defending the evils oppressing the people and country.
"In my opinion, this is a lesson for us to learn, in order to rectify our mistakes. In the context of education, academic institutions and great professors should do more than just provide education, but also produce graduates of high moral principles and ethics.
"The only (thing they) have been able to be produce are sacred cows – those who have numerous academic achievements but cannot think outside of the box," he added.