Sejarah ringkas GERAK
Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK) wujud berasaskan rentetan perjuangan golongan akademik di Malaysia sejak pertengahan tahun 1970an. Usaha untuk menubuhkan sebuah pertubuhan kakitangan akademik peringkat kebangsaan bermula pada tahun 1978.
Pada tahun 1978 berita tentang pindaan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU) berkaitan “Staff Rules and Regulations” membimbangkan golongan akademik di universiti2 awam pada ketika itu. Beberapa mesyuarat di antara persatuan2 kakitangan akademik semua universiti diadakan untuk mendapat persetujuan bersama menangani saranan pindaan baru itu. Himpunan persatuan2 kakitangan akademik pada masa itu sebulat suara menganggap peraturan baru itu merupakan hukuman mati kepada kebebasan akademik dan otonomi universiti. Mereka juga berpendapat peraturan tersebut memberi terlampau luas kuasa kepada naib canselor dan pihak berkuasa universiti yang boleh membawa kepada penyalahgunaan kuasa.
Sehubungan dengan itu golongan akademik ini juga memperjuangkan reformasi pendidikan tinggi dan mereka telah berjaya menyediakan sebuah dokumen yang progresif dan demokratik yang di namakan “University Charter” atau Piagam Universiti sebagai alternatif kepada AUKU. Akhirnya wakil persatuan kakitangann akademik dapat mengadakan mesyuarat dengan Dato’ Musa Hitam yang merupakan Menteri Pelajaran pada ketika itu. Walaupun mereka berjaya mendapat persetujuan Menteri untuk pindaan beberapa klausa, tapi pada keseluruhannya pihak pemerintah tidak banyak berganjak dari cadangan awal mereka dan usul mereka diluluskan di Parlimen tanpa banyak pindaan.
Kesan dari kegagalan mempertahankan perjuangan menegakkan kebebasan akademik dan otonomi universiti tersebut pemimpin persatuan2 akademik bersetuju menubuhkan sebuah tenaga akademik kebangsaan. Tetapi sayangnya usaha tersebut tidak dikendalikan sehinggalah pada tahun 1985 apabila pindaan AUKU tadi dikenakan untuk menghukum Presiden dan Naib Presiden, Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik dan Pentadbiran Universiti Sains Malaysia (PKAPUSM). Krisis antara PKAPUSM dan pihak berkuasa USM ini berakhir dengan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Pulau Pinang yang berpihak kepada PKAPUSM (Presiden dan Naib Presiden) pada tahun 1988 dan keputusan bertulis bertarikh 20 Januari 1989.
Pada tahun 1989 PKAPUSM telah menganjurkan Persidangan Akademik Kebangsaan di Pulau Pinang dengan menjemput sebilangan besar tokoh akademik dan intelektual sebagai pembentang kertas. Di persidangan tersebut sebuah resolusi telah diluluskan untuk menubuhkan sebuah pertubuhan akademik kebangsaan secara sebulat suara. PKAPUSM telah diberi mandat untuk menubuhkan jawatankuasa protem dan mendaftarkan pertubuhan baru tersebut.
Setelah beberapa tahun berbincang dan mendapat pelbagai pandangan dari pelbagai pihak terutama persatuan2 kakitangan akademik akhirnya Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK) berjaya didaftarkan pada 23 Jun 1993.
GERAK dan Institut Kajian Dasar (IKD) telah menganjurkan satu persidangan bertemakan “Universiti dan Tradisi Intelektual” pada 24-25 September 1996 yang bertujuan membahaskan isu tradisi intelektual, kebebasan akademik dan halatuju universiti-universiti di Malaysia.
GERAK merupakan satu-satunya pertubuhan yang mewakili semua ahli-ahli akademik (professor, professor
madya, pensyarah, pengajar dan penyelidik) di semua institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi Malaysia (universiti, kolej universiti, kolej), samada awam atau swasta. Keahlian GERAK juga terbuka kepada ahli akademik yang telah bersara. GERAK telah
mempelupori penubuhan Majlis Pertubuhan Akademik Malaysia (MAAC), dan membantunya pada peringkat awal penubuhannya.
GERAK merupakan satu-satunya pertubuhan yang mewakili semua ahli-ahli akademik Malaysia di peringkat antarabangsa. GERAK
mempunyai saringan dengan pertubuhan akademik di Australia (NTEU), Amerika Syarikat (AAUP, AFT), Canada (CAUT) dan beberapa negara lain. GERAK adalah satu-satunya pertubuhan akademik Malaysia yang menjadi ahli Education International (EI), sebuah konfederasi pertubuhan, persatuan dan kesatuan pendidik dari seluruh dunia.
Matlamat dan tujuan GERAK seperti termaktub didalam Perlembagaan GERAK adalah seperti berikut:
1. Melaksanakan apa-apa yang perlu untuk menggalakkan kepentingan ahli-ahli akademik, dan persatuan-persatuan akademik
serta memupuk perpaduan tenaga akademik di seluruh negara.
2. Melindungi hak-hak dan kepentingan ahli-ahli pertubuhan ini.
3. Memperjuangkan kebebasan akademik dan autonomi institusi pengajian tinggi.
4. Memupuk suasana yang boleh menggalakkan ke arah kecemerlangan akademik.
5. Memupuk kerjasama di kalangan tenaga akademik di dalam dan di luar negeri.
6. Mengelola dan mengambil bahagian dalam pelbagai kegiatan akademik dan sosial demi menegakkan keamanan, demokrasi, nilai-nilai murni sejagat dan hak asasi manusia.
An Overview of GERAK’s Historical Trajectory
The Malaysian Academic Movement, or Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK), emerged as a consequence of a series of advocacies undertaken by the Malaysian academic fraternity starting in the mid-1970s. The initiative to establish a national association representing academic staff commenced in the year 1978.
In that year, the proposed amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU), particularly those pertaining to “Staff Rules and Regulations,” elicited substantial apprehension within the academic circles of public universities. A series of deliberations among the academic staff associations from various universities were convened to form a united front against the proposed amendments. The collective stance of these associations firmly regarded the new regulations as a fundamental threat to the pillars of academic freedom and the autonomy of universities. It was also contended that these regulations excessively augmented the powers vested in vice-chancellors and university governing bodies, potentially paving the way for power misuse.
In light of these developments, the academic community was also actively advocating for reforms in higher education. A significant milestone in this endeavour was drafting a progressive and democratic document, termed the “University Charter,” envisioned as an alternative to the AUKU. Subsequently, representatives from the academic staff associations succeeded in orchestrating a dialogue with Dato’ Musa Hitam, the then Minister of Education. While they managed to secure approval from the Minister for the amendment of certain clauses, the overarching stance of the government remained largely unaltered from its original proposition, resulting in the legislative enactment of their proposal with minimal modifications.
The inability to safeguard the crusade for academic freedom and university autonomy led the association leaders to consent to forming a national academic entity. Regrettably, this initiative did not materialize until 1985 when the AUKU amendment was invoked to impose sanctions on the President and Vice President of the Academic and Administrative Staff Association of Universiti Sains Malaysia (PKAPUSM). The standoff between PKAPUSM and the USM authorities culminated with a favourable verdict by the High Court of Penang for PKAPUSM (President and Vice President) in 1988, formally documented on January 20, 1989.
In the year 1989, PKAPUSM orchestrated the National Academic Conference in Penang, inviting a consortium of esteemed academics and intellectuals as presenters. The conference witnessed the unanimous adoption of a resolution to establish a national academic body. PKAPUSM was entrusted with the responsibility to form a protem committee and undertake the registration of this nascent entity.
After extensive consultations and incorporating a wide array of viewpoints, predominantly from the academic staff associations, the Malaysian Academic Movement (GERAK) was officially registered on June 23, 1993, marking a significant chapter in the annals of academic advocacy in Malaysia.
GERAK and the Institute for Policy Research (IKD) held a conference titled “University and Intellectual Tradition” on September 24-25, 1996, aimed at exploring issues surrounding intellectual tradition, academic freedom, and the future direction of universities in Malaysia.
GERAK is the only organization in Malaysia that represents all academic members (professors, associate professors, lecturers, teachers, and researchers) at all higher education institutions in Malaysia (universities, university colleges, colleges), whether public or private. Membership in GERAK is also open to retired academics. GERAK pioneered the establishment of the Malaysian Academic Organizations Council (MAAC) and assisted it in the initial stages of its establishment.
GERAK is the only organization that represents all Malaysian academics internationally. GERAK has affiliations with academic organizations in Australia (NTEU), the United States (AAUP, AFT), Canada (CAUT), and several other countries. GERAK is the only Malaysian academic organization that is a member of Education International (EI), a confederation of organizations,
associations, and unions of educators from around the world.
The goals and objectives of GERAK as stipulated in the GERAK Constitution are as follows:
1. Implement whatever is necessary to promote the interests of academic members and academic associations and foster the unity of academic forces throughout the country.
2. Protect the rights and interests of the members of this organization.
3. Fight for academic freedom and autonomy of higher education institutions.
4. Foster an environment that encourages academic excellence.
5. Foster cooperation among academic staff within and outside the country.
6. Manage and participate in various academic and social activities to uphold peace, democracy, universal
moral values, and human rights.