'Shocked' Samy: No room for same mistake

MIC president S Samy Vellu has expressed shock and dismay over Universiti Malaya's decision to appoint a non-Indian to head its Indian Studies Department.

The move to replace Dr S Kumaran with a non-Indian had sparked an uproar.

In a statement today, Samy Vellu said Indians in the then Malaya and Singapore had struggled to set up the department.

"Today, the department is considered the Indian community's cultural heritage and part of our history in this country," he said.

"It reflects our prestige and as such, it does not make sense for a non-Indian to head the department."

In view of this, MIC wants a commitment from the university that an Indian will head its Indian Studies Department and the ‘same mistake’ will not be repeated in future.

Samy Vellu said he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should there be no solution to the problem.

Work together to ensure survival

He also urged the Indians in the department, especially academicians and lecturers to work together and ensure the survival of the department.

He noted that part of the problem was due to lack of cooperation among them.

Samy Vellu was however pleased that Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon had assured Human Resources Minister and MIC secretary-general S Subramaniam yesterday that the matter would be resolved amicably.

"However, we want an assurance that the Indian Studies Department will continue to be headed by an Indian," he reiterated.

Following the appointment of a non-Indian to the post, several leaders of non-governmental organisations called on the university to rescind the appointment.

Yesterday, Subramaniam said Ghauth informed him that Kumaran's replacement was an administrative issue but he promised to look into my request seriously.

If the situation was reversed...

Malaysian Indian United Party president KS Nallakaruppan also expressed disappointment with the decision of the university.

He said that it was important for the Indian Studies Department to have a person who was well-versed in Indian culture and the Tamil language.

"How will a non-Indian person be able to relate to all things related to Indian studies?" he asked.

"It is very much like putting a person without any religious knowledge to be the head of an Islamic studies department. Would that be acceptable?" he added.

He hoped UM would quickly bring an end to the situation by making a proper appointment.

"The appointment of a non-Indian would also bring about the fear that the university will eventually try to close down the department for non-performance or under-performance," he added.

In a related development, MIC's Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany said the appointment of the non-Indian academic was only a temporary measure.

This was relayed by Gauth during a meeting with Devamany, Federal Territories Deputy Minister and MIC information chief M Saravanan and Gerakan's Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department A Kohilan.

"We had a fruitful discussion. The vice-chancellor also agreed to facilitate the development of the department," Devamany told Malaysiakini.