Yet another profound scholar is leaving Universiti Malaya. Can UM or Malaysia afford to lose such a great scholar? I refer to the report Don't axe top academics Terence Gomez, Mohd Zohadie .

What amuses me is that overseas scholars are able to realise and are well-informed about the serious damage which is taking place at our higher education institutions, while the university administrators themselves remains oblivious.

The prime minister, in promising to reform the education sector, remains silent on this issue. On the one hand, the government cries 'foul' when students go abroad on government scholarships and don't return but here they are unable to control a simple direct brain-drain taking place right under their nose.

The authorities must understand that Gomez is not just another scholar, but a prolific, prominent and a well-respected academician both locally and internationally.

The UM administration has said that they are unable to approve Gomez's leave for secondment as they 'still needed his services' . Or are they glad that he is leaving and there is less of a threat in the academic circles within the faculty?