Malaysian academic Dr Solehah Yaacob, who drew public scrutiny over claims that ancient Malays could fly and had taught the Chinese flying kung fu, is no longer associated with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).Dr Solehah is challenging her termination and plans to take IIUM to the Industrial Court, accusing the university of acting unprofessionally in its decision, Free Malaysia...
I’d argue spreading complete bullshit is always harmful. And if scientifically proven a bullshit (and this was not her only horribly wrong claim), she should not be kept in an academic position. If she’s not academic and therefore in position of authority, then let her believe whatever she wants - I agree with you on this condition.
The problem is that science cannot prove a negative. They can only produce evidence that, to the best of their knowledge, it appears that people weren’t flying, but there will always be additional questions at every level. Soon enough the research will run out of answers.
I.E. “Well, do you have records of every region of Malaysia during that time? What about every family? Maybe it was passed down in just one lineage. Can you show me the evidence you collected on every single Malay? Maybe it was just one person.”
When dealing with people making obscene claims, the only sensible way forward is to require them to produce evidence of their claims or get off the proverbial stage.
You can very well prove the physical imposibility of something biological.
Nothing is really proven in history. Story is right there in the name. Now there is overwhelming evidence for certain stories over others. And I agree the university is free to terminate researchers that don’t align with the desired messages of their donors. Academics do not need to be in consensus - and in fact that’s an unhealthy state for them to be in.
Extraordinary claims, extraordinary evidence. That lacking, it’s just bullshit.