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Should racist Universiti Malaya lecturer be sacked?

YOURSAY | ‘Universities are supposed to be the bastion of ethical behaviour.’

UM lecturer apologises to students over racist remarks

Odin Tajué: As implied or even charged in numerous comments posted here over the last few years, as well as in at least one letter written by a Malay who said he had attended the infamous Biro Tatanegara (BTN) course and published by a news portal (I have a record of the letter), Malay pupils and/or students are brainwashed into believing that, among other things, they are superior to those of all other races in Malaysia.

This brainwashing is surely the cause of this so-called lecturer’s wretched, deplorable, disgraceful attitude.

Merely accepting her apology, which, whether sincere or only lip service, is best left to conjecture on the part of the university concerned, but not subjecting her to an appropriate punitive action is tantamount to not even slapping but caressing her on the wrist.

The arrogance of these brainwashed Malays is matched only by their low IQ, as amply illustrated by another from the fraternity of pseudo-educators in Malaysia, a professor from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UMP).

Speaking at a seminar on ‘History of Sarawak - A Journey to Merdeka: Sarawak in Malaysia’ held in Kuching on Oct 16 last year, one Professor Dr Ramlah Adam from UMP arrogantly told those Sarawakians present that if they did not like Malaysia, they should migrate.

If Ramlah’s IQ were even average, she would not have made such a statement.

Anonymous 759201436321741: @Odin Tajue, here is the tragedy of our Muslim brethren as fellow Malaysians.

Our Muslim brethren have been led to perceive (believe) that they are superior and certainly their religion takes precedence over all other religions. Their perception is seen as the truth by the majority of them. Their numerical superiority only entrenches it.

That is why, after more than 50 years at the helm, they still lag behind the other communities. And the most tragic part is this: they are led by their leaders to believe (perceive) that it is the fault of the others, not theirs.

Anonymous_3e86: Apologising doesn't cleanse her of her racist mentality. Her racist mentality has been implanted into her by BTN programmes carried out by the BN government.

Headhunter: I hope the Sarawak state government includes her on the persona non grata list of undesirables to the state.

Rick Teo: The lecturer should be sacked. In other countries, she would be forced to resign and charged with racial abuse.

Donkey Kong: Racism is not developed overnight. Sacking her does little to reduce racism but merely to assuage those who had been upset by her. Apology and some compassion is the way to go.

Kingfisher: The university deserves to be commended for the suspension of the lecturer and for the immediacy of its disciplinary action. The apology is an outcome from a consensus and is therefore worthy of respect.

Educators’ failures in their regard and interaction with their students is akin to a member of a clergy sinning against religious principles. Good on the brave students for calling out on indecent behaviour.

Anonymous_3f94: Why did it take so long to determine that the lecturer had said what the students had claimed?

Was it because the lecturer had initially denied saying so? If so, shouldn’t she be sacked, firstly for obstructing an investigation, and secondly, for saying what she was originally accused of?

If she is being retained as a lecturer by the university, then does it not imply that she is being retained only because of her race? And does this not mean that the university itself, as an institution, is now practicing the very same racism that the lecturer was found guilty of?

Gaji Buta: The fact that the students may have accepted the apology is immaterial. An offence has been committed and law must be followed.

If UM says that they do not tolerate such things, then the only action will be to sack the lecturer.

FellowMalaysian: The premier university has failed to live up to its name as the centre of academic and learning excellence, for it has clearly taken a hypocritical stand by keeping its staff who has admitted guilt.

It has been one month already since the lecturer has apologised but the university has failed to mete out its punishment.

CQ Muar: Perhaps Muslim Malaysians, particularly those from higher institutions of learning and other government bodies, should heed the advice of Johor Sultanah Raja Zarith Sofia Sultan Idris Shah.

Her Highness shared her experience while undergoing study and living with Christians and people of other faiths.

Her Highness expressed her desire and concern, called on all Malaysians to emulate such examples and hoped Muslims in this country would do well by learning to respect non-Muslims.

This is particularly so as Malaysia is a multi-racial country.

GE14Now!: The least that the university should have done is to reveal the lecturer's name.

A picture of the person would have also constituted fairer punishment. As it is. it looks like it is easy to get away with racism.

All that a person needs to do is to express some form of 'remorse' (and that is usually the remorse of being found out) and then getting away with it virtually scot-free.

Universities are supposed to be the bastion of ethical behaviour (after all, they teach it). Well, it is time that some ethical behaviour be demonstrated. Like they say, actions have consequences.

Slumdog: This is an easy copout. The message that stands out in this case, and in others where a non-Malay is the victim, the non-Malay is always willing, and with much grace and humility, to accept an apology or the solution offered by the accused/offender/authorities.

If the situation was reversed and a Chinese or Indian lecturer had made similar comments to two Malay students, all hell would have broken loose.

Pro-Umno NGOs, ministers and other like-minded misfits would be demanding the sacking and jailing of the lecturer for his/her racist comments.

Multiple police reports from all corners of the country would be dispatched and overwhelm the PDRM. The ever-ready IGP would have the said lecturer arrested.

Anonymous 007: Yes, have we considered what it will be like if a non-Malay lecturer were to do that to Malay students? Probably he or she would be remanded for sedition.


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