BELIAWANIC MCA has expressed concern over the troubling rise of controversies surrounding Universiti Malaya (UM), namely unresolved animal abuse cases to recent allegations of sexual harassment involving a lecturer at the university.
Citing UM’s reputation as one of the country’s top public universities and a globally recognised institution, its national chairperson Ivone Low Yi Wen said these controversies not only harm the university’s reputation but also raise concerns about its commitment to student safety and welfare.
“The recent case involving a lecturer accused of sending explicit materials to a student is deeply concerning. Despite the student reporting the misconduct to UM staff, the lecturer remains on campus, causing her unnecessary distress,” she lamented.
“Alarmingly, this is not the first time concerns have been raised about this individual. Reports of past incidents and his ‘well-known’ behaviour have circulated within the UM community for years.
“If so many were aware, why no action was taken? The student, understandably fearful of retaliation, is reluctant to involve the police. Her hesitation is justified, given that she already reported the matter to UM staff, yet she still sighted him on campus.
“This raises serious questions about the university’s priorities and its commitment to protecting students.”
According to Low, UM must not treat this lightly as allowing repeated allegations to go unaddressed shows a dangerous lack of accountability.
She said the lecturer’s actions represent a severe abuse of trust and authority and called for the university to suspend him and ensure a thorough investigation is conducted.
“Anything less risks emboldening others and sends a message that student safety is not a priority,” she remarked, adding that the university must also address the bigger issue which is its systemic failures in dealing with misconduct.
“Policies to prevent harassment need to be stricter, reporting systems must be made easier to access, and action against offenders should be swift and transparent. Support for victims, such as counselling and safety guarantees, must also be prioritised.
“UM’s reputation as a leading institution is at stake. To rebuild trust and protect its community, it must show strong leadership and take decisive action.
“Ignoring these issues or responding weakly is unacceptable. UM must act now to prove it is serious about safeguarding its students and upholding its values.”
Previously, the UM Feminism Club alleged in a statement that a professor had sexually harassed his students by sending inappropriate pictures of himself.
The statement added that while reports had been lodged against the lecturer, no action was taken.
Later, in a separate statement, UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman stressed the university’s commitment to handling the case swiftly, regardless of the individual’s position or status.
According to a Bernama report, the lecturer has since been suspended, with the action taken in accordance with the Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 2000. – Dec 31, 2024
Main image: The Star
