I am deeply concerned at the responses of Sam Simon and J Lu to the ongoing debate initiated by the circumstances that have led to the resignation academic Edmund Terrence Gomez from the University of Malaya.

Instead of contributing productively and creatively to the public discourse that has now begun on ways to reform and revamp the standards and practices of higher education in our country, the writers have found it more valuable to make inane statements and pass vacuous judgement on Gomez's decision to spend two years expanding his expertise at the UN.

Two years during which where he is to lead an international research project on ethnic conflict and management - an affiliation that would no doubt have directly and tangibly benefitted UM and enhanced its and our nation's standing in the world's eyes as well as in the perception of Malaysians.

Yet, these writers are more concerned with drawing our attention to the issue of leave and lucrative options entailed by these postings, which, in their opinion, do 'not make economical or administrative sense for UM'.

I say, enough of this talk. Such rhetoric is not only disgraceful but also profoundly reminiscent of the pernicious, parochial, and petty mentality of the UM administrators, from the vice-chancellor all the way down to his minions serving as heads of departments, who have been entrusted with the responsibility of running the nation's oldest university.