Some years ago, Malaysia set its hopes on producing a Nobel laureate by 2020. Towards this goal, the Science, Technology and the Environment Ministry (MOSTE), in collaboration with a number of other institutions, attempted to nurture an interest in the sciences among the nation’s youth. However, it was questionable as to why Malaysia’s Nobel endeavour stopped at the sciences, when the Nobel Foundation also provides prizes for peace efforts and literature.

Last year, former PM, Tun Dr Mahathir was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2002, Anwar Ibrahim was tipped for nomination for the coveted prize.

Still Malaysia does not have a Nobel laureate of its own, and for some strange reason, the Foreign Ministry was reported to have instructed local organisers of a peace dialogue to withdraw their invitation to Iranian Nobel laureate, Shirin Ebadi.

It was reported that the ministry thought it “unwise” to invite Ebadi because she is seen by the Iranian government as promoting a “Western agenda”. The ministry also cited “preserving good bilateral relations with Iran” as another reason for the invitation withdrawal.

Shirin Ebadi receiving her Nobel award

Apparently, Ebadi representative said the the forum had earlier been vetted by the relevant authorities with no objections. In an email to the foundation, Ebadi’s assistant wrote, “Although you have sent an invitation to our office about one year ago and were in touch with us during this time, you have cancelled [our invitation to] Malaysia under pressure from the Iranian government. So Ms Ebadi will not [be visiting either Malaysia or Thailand] and will not participate in any of your events.”

Ebadi, a lawyer and human rights activist, is said to be the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.