Ever since the news item Don't axe top academics Terence Gomez, Mohd Zohadie appeared in malaysiakini , there has been an avalanche of news reports, commentaries and letters to the editors in various newspapers on the resignation of University Malaya's Associate Professor Dr Terrence Gomez .

All the comments were in support of Gomez and they questioned the rational for the decision of UM in not supporting his secondment to the United Nations.

Gomez is not your ordinary, run-of the-mill lecturer. From the numerous letters from academics from all over the world, it is evident that his academic work is recognised internationally. Every effort should be made by UM's management to retain him at this university.

The integrity of the management of UM has now been questioned. The public questions whether the university really has the welfare of the institution at heart when a prominent academic is denied a major, short-term appointment abroad.

These letters, reports and commentaries also question if the university can afford to allow its best academics to leave, rather than finding ways to accommodate and encourage them to continue to serve the university.

Immediate action is required by the management to salvage whatever little reputation it has left after its gross mishandling of Gomez's application for secondment to the UN.

After the publishing of the various letters from academics from all over the world, the university's standing among the international community is now clearly severely tarnished.

Moreover, Gomez's departure will also have a very strong bearing on the future ranking of the UM given his excellent publication record. UM Academic Staff Association urgently urges the university administration and the Board of Directors to review the decision on the secondment of Gomez before the credibility of UM is further tainted by the issue.

Any decline in the reputation of UM, being Malaysia's premier university, would have an adverse effect on the reputation of other tertiary institutions in Malaysia. The future development of Malaysia as an international educational hub will be jeopardised.

A fair and just resolution of this crisis is urgently required. Our association calls for the immediate intervention of the prime minister and the higher education minister to resolve this crisis.

Please save the reputation of UM.

The writer is the president of the UM Academic Staff Association .