There were no elements of victimisation in the termination of political science lecturer Prof P Ramasamy's contract, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) today.

Its vice-chancellor Dr Mohamed Salleh Mohd Yasin said the contract was cancelled after considering Ramasamay's academic and performance aspects.

"We (the university board of directors) decided there was no need to extend his contract after looking into terms of academic and performance," he said when met at his office.

Ramasamy, who has been with the university for more than two decades, had earlier cried foul over the termination of his contract.

The academic, who retired on May 10 this year, was re-employed on a monthly contractual basis for two years - until May 9, 2007.

His contract termination will be effective from Aug 27.

A 'privilege'

Mohamed Salleh also dismissed Ramasamy's assertion that he was axed for being outspoken and critical of the government and its policies.

"We look at it holistically. We don't take it (the academics articles and criticisms) as negative. I feel it is not fair for him to come up with the accusations," he said.

On the same note, he said the renewal of academic staff's contracts was 'not a right but a privilege'.

UKM social science and humanities faculty dean Prof Dr Mohamed Yusoff Ismail said the renewal of contracts for professors is not similar to other academic staff.

He explained that the management does not guarantee an automatic two-year renewal for professors.

He said contracts can be terminated at any given time by the university or the staff concerned without giving any reason.

According to him, renewal of contracts are done on a case-by-case basis.

"Upon conducting a syarahan perdana (inaugural lecture), it does not mean automatic renewal is given. It depends on the personality as well.

"Some people work well with others, some are calculative (on the workload)," he said, adding that recommendation from the head of department is also required for extension of contracts.

Yusoff, who does not believe that Ramasamy is being victimised, has written an appeal to the vice-chancellor to allow the professor to teach until the semester ends in November for the 'sake of the students'.

He stated that this will allow the smooth flow of lectures.

There are rumours...

UKM Academic Staff Association president Prof Dr Kamaruddin Mohd Said, when met, also denied that Ramasamy was being victimised.

Kamaruddin, who is also a lecturer at the social science and humanities faculty, said Ramasamy should explain his off-campus activities to the university's authorities and association.

There are rumours of things which Ramasamy did which could have contributed to the termination, he said.

However, he declined to elaborate, saying: "I can't comment based on rumours."

He said it is necessary for Ramasamy to explain these things so that the 'association can understand what is going on'.

Kamaruddin said the professor has yet to approach the association.