Renowned academic Assoc Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, who resigned from Universiti Malaya two weeks ago, said he is leaving the establishment he has been with for nearly a decade with a 'heavy heart'.

"I am very disappointed that UM did not give me the secondment," he added when contacted today.

Gomez was denied a two-year leave of secondment to take up the prestigious research appointment at the Geneva-based United Nations Research Institute for Social Development to pioneer global research on racial conflict.

This left the economics lecturer with no choice but to resign. He tendered his resignation letter on May 8 and it will take effect from Aug 7.

After deducting his outstanding leave, the academic will leave UM on June 14 and head to Geneva for his contractual employment.

Gomez, who has authored and edited numerous acclaimed books, said that the university did not state any reasons for the rejection of his application.

"The prospect to return to the UM is gone as I have submitted the resignation letter," he lamented.

According to a report in the Star last week, the university said it turned down the application because it needed the services of the lecturer.

'My heart is still here'

Commenting on this, Gomez said while the university claimed that his services are needed, nobody from the management called him to have a meeting after he tendered his resignation.

The academic said he wishes to return to Malaysia and continue his research into corruption, race relations and privatisation issues when his two-year contract in Geneva ends.

"My heart is still here. I want to be based here as to do researches on Malaysia, it is better to be on the ground where I can be close to the issues.

"But I can't say for sure as no one will know what will happen in the future. It also depends on whether I will get a job in Malaysia," he added.

Among the books he has written are Money Politics in Barisan Nasional , Political Business: Corporate involvement of Malaysian political parties , and Malaysia's Political Economy: Politics, Patronage and Profits .

However, Gomez did not dismiss the possibility of returning to UM if given the opportunity.

"I am a scholar and academic at heart. My main motivation is teaching and research. What is important for me is to educate the young. I believe I can help students to think differently and critically," he said.

Malaysiakini has tried contacting the university authorities for comments on the matter but was told to put its request in writing. A fax containing a number of questions was sent last Monday, but there is no reply.