Renowned academic Prof P Ramasamy has been axed by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and he is crying foul.

"It is without doubt that I have been victimised and discriminated for being outspoken and critical on many issues," he told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

The senior political science lecturer received a letter from the university's management on Tuesday stating that his contract will not be renewed.

"...the university's management has decided that your services as professor will be terminated with one month notice and the effective date is August 27, 2005," read the letter inked by human resources department registrar Taip Abu.

However, the three-page letter, copies of which was made available to the media, did not state any reason(s) for the decision.

Controversial statements

"In a more precise sense, I speculate that my public role in writing and speaking on political and social issues such as the lack of democratic space, the plight of the Indian community, the exploitation of labour and more recently my statements on the controversial role of the Malaysian Medical Council on the Crimea Medical State University could have provided the overall context in which the decision was taken against me.

"Academic excellence is judged not by sound teaching and academic or intellectual output, but how well lecturers and administrators cultivate personal friendships and ties to seek promotion and extension of contracts," said Ramasamy, who retired on May 10 this year.

Following his retirement, he was re-employed on a monthly contractual basis for two years - until May 9, 2007.

When contacted, an official from UKM's social sciences and humanities faculty confirmed that he had received a copy of Ramasamy's termination letter.

Although unsure of the reasons behind the decision, he however said it was standard practice for both the university or lecturers to give one month's notice, in cases of contractual employment, without providing any reason.

UKM Vice-chancellor Dr Mohamed Salleh Mohamed Yasin could not be reached for comment.

Question of dignity

Meanwhile, Ramasamy said to qualify for an employment extension, lecturers are required to have a book published and present an inaugural address.

However, he claimed that there were UKM lecturers, who did not present an inaugural address, had been given a one-year extension.

"There are many cases in the university where even non-professors are given two year extensions. So basically it is whether you like the person or not, whether he is a member of Umno or if he plays golf with you. These are the citing criteria that operate.

"Why was I given a month-to-month contract then terminated? Some who have not finished their inaugural address were given one year," he said.

Ramasamy, who had lectured in the university for 24 years, said he received warnings from the management for writing and publishing critical pieces on local politics.

"Thus for the last two decades or so, I cannot claim that I have received the sympathetic consideration of authorities both in UKM and outside," he added

Refusing to file an appeal, Ramasamy demanded that the university reinstate him on a normal or accepted two-year contract, consistent with the directives regarding re-employment of retired staff.

"I'm not going to appeal. To me, this is a question of dignity. Why should I appeal?" he said in response to a question.

On whether he would consider legal action, Ramasamy said he has yet to decide on this.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also present at the press conference, described the termination as "the latest example of the worsening crisis of higher education in Malaysia coming close on the heels of the (Universiti Malaya economic lecturer Dr Edmund) Terence Gomez affair..."

The veteran politician said he will seek a meeting with Higher Education Minister Shafie Mohd Salleh regarding the latest incident.

"We hope that they (UKM and Shafie) will be able to give a just response to deal with a new injustice to Malaysian academia," he added.

Lim is also considering holding a series of public meetings to create awareness and to make authorities concerned responsive to public expectations of a higher academic standard.

Read malaysiakini 's special report on the crisis in higher education here .