KUALA LUMPUR – Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has defended an academic presentation involving students dressed in outfits resembling Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members, amid public outrage over a viral video showing the scene.
The university said the presentation was part of a class assignment designed to encourage critical thinking and raise awareness about global human rights violations. It explained that the students chose to explore themes of racial hatred and discrimination as part of their coursework for the Contemporary Global and Legal Issues subject at its Dengkil campus, under the Selangor Foundation Centre.
“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,” UiTM said in a statement.
The 15-second video that sparked controversy depicted students in white robes and pointed hoods reminiscent of the American white supremacist hate group, known for its history of violence, racism and religious intolerance.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin said the assignment was supervised to ensure it adhered to academic standards and was conducted in a “controlled manner” without infringing upon religious, cultural or racial sensitivities.
“For your information, no elements of insult towards any religion were mentioned or discussed throughout the session,” Shahrin said, as quoted by several local media outlets.
He added that the visual approach was part of the pedagogical strategy to support impactful classroom presentations, aligned with the course objectives of fostering analytical thinking and civic awareness.
UiTM reiterated its commitment to instilling universal values in its students and 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,” the university said.
UiTM urged the public to evaluate such classroom activities within their academic context, cautioning against misinterpretation of the students’ intentions.
The Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1865, is widely recognised as a far-right extremist group in the United States. It has a long history of using violence, intimidation and terrorism—particularly targeting African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and other minority groups—to assert white supremacy. – April 15, 2025