It is wholly "unacceptable" if Umcedel director Redzuan Othman was asked to leave his post because of interference from the Education Ministry, Universiti Malaya's Academic Staff Union (PKAUM) chief Azmi Sharom said today.

 

The associate professor of law told Malaysiakini that if allegations the ministry had directly intervened are true, then the government had "no idea" about what it takes to make a good university.

 

"If Prof Redzuan were to be removed, it has to be purely on academic reasons. Any other reason, especially if it comes from outside the university, is an unacceptable intervention," Azmi ( left ) said.

 

He said the Education Ministry had "disregarded principles of academic freedom and autonomy with its actions.

"This indicates that the government has no idea what makes a good university, it has no respect for academic autonomy and freedom."

Student: Management claims age was a factor

However, UM Student Council president Fahmi Zainol said he was informed by the top management of UM that Redzuan's tenure was not renewed due to "age factor".

 

"This was the top management's response when I asked why Professor Redzuan is no longer Arts and Social Sciences Faculty dean. This excuse is childish and does not make sense. 

 

"If he feels he is too old and cannot do the job, then he would not have even nominated himself as a candidate for the faculty's dean. If age is the criteria, then the University Senate chairperson, too, should not hold the post as he is almost 80 years old," Fahmi said.

Fahmi (right) also claims to have been informed of what had happeed to Redzuan by the university vice-chancellor Mohd Amin Jalaludin. 

He said a dean's election usually involves a discussion among the vice-chancellors, an interview and a presentation to a panel. 

However, he claimed, the procedures were not adhered to this time as the discussion was not attended by the vice-chancellors of academics and research. 

Fahmi also expressed his disappointment that the results of the election were not published after the voting was done among faculty academicians.

 

The student council head lambasted those who undermined Redzuan’s multiple achievements in UM and labelled him as “unintelligent”.

 

“Under Professor Redzuan’s tutelage, the Arts and Social Sciences Faculty has achieved a lot and became the second best faculty after the medical faculty in terms of employment of graduates.

“He also holds an excellent record and has been nominated as the best dean in UM,” Fahmi said in a statement. 

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