• Both professors said they were not told of the switch, or why it was made
• NUS said that the alumni group is not governed by the university
• Raffles Hall Association said the contents of the event are developed at the organisers’ discretion

SINGAPORE — Two academics who were scheduled to speak on a panel about public discourse by a National University of Singapore (NUS) alumni group have been replaced at the eleventh hour, with both saying they were unaware of the switch and have not received an explanation on the move.

The “Public Discourse: Truth and Trust” webinar, organised by the Raffles Hall Association (RHA) and scheduled for Sunday (Nov 1), initially featured Professor Cherian George, a media studies professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, and Prof Donald Low, professor of practice at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Institute of Public Policy.

Prof George was also formerly a political journalist at national broadsheet The Straits Times, while Prof Low was previously the associate dean for research and executive education at NUS’ Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Both were also scheduled to speak about their new book, “PAP vs PAP”, which features a collection of essays on the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

But on Tuesday, some online users noticed that the association had put up a new flyer for the event introducing a whole new slate of speakers.

Speaking to TODAY, Prof George said he was informed by the organiser of the panel over the phone last Friday that NUS had stopped the event from proceeding.

Neither he nor Prof Low have heard from the organisers since this phone call, he said, adding that they, too, learned of the last-minute switch of speakers through social media and friends.

In a statement, Prof Low told TODAY: “I haven’t heard anything from NUS. Cherian and I were asked by NUS to speak at this Raffles Hall event more than a month ago.”

In response to TODAY’s queries, an NUS spokesperson said the university has no ties to RHA, as it is an “autonomous alumni group that is not governed by Raffles Hall and NUS”.

Neither the association nor the event organisers made any comment when approached by TODAY. Instead, the organisers directed this reporter to a statement published on the association’s public Facebook group.

An online flyer for the event with the modified lineup of speakers. Image: Twitter

In the statement, RHA president Sonny Yuen apologised to alumni members for the changes made to the panel, but said “the important conversations on today’s social media world” will continue.

He added that all RHA learning events are private events for Raffles Hall alumni only, and the contents of the closed door event are “developed at the organiser’s discretion”.

The three new panellists are ex-journalist Al Ramirez Dizon, special research adviser at the Institute of Policy Studies Arun Mahizhnan, and Raffles Hall fellow and NUS lecturer Shobha Avadhani, who was originally listed as the moderator for the panel.

However, since the kerfuffle made the rounds on social media, Mr Arun said on Facebook that he has pulled out of the event, citing as a reason that he was not given a “full briefing” of what had transpired previously.

Weighing in on the issue, former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng said RHA’s decision to replace the two professors without their knowledge was “cowardly” and a "petty act".

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Cheng said though he disagreed with many of Prof George’s views, the two professors' opinions are “not seditious”.

“If someone somewhere whispered or gave instructions that this talk be cancelled, that person should have the (courage) to step forward and take responsibility,” he said.