Malaysia has lost another brilliant academician . This matter is highlighted prominently because the offer came from the United Nations and also the fact that he was not given the two years leave for the posting by Universiti Malaya.

We complain about the 'brain drain' that the country is facing and the case of Dr Edmund Terence Gomez's is only but one. I am very sure the government is fully aware that many of our top and brilliant minds have been recruited by the country down south across the causeway.

In Gomez's case, he wanted to remain with UM. He asked for permission to take up a research posting with the UN. The fact that he was offered the position by the UN is already an acknowledgment that Malaysia is capable of producing top-class brains.

But I now wonder what sort of a top-notch administrators we have in UM and what 'brilliant minds' are running the university. We note that the minister of higher education or the prime minister have not uttered one word about Gomez's forced resignation.

It seems that the message is very clear to Gomez - go if you have to, because there are better and more expensive brains that are going to take your place. Which reminds me of a joke I heard - if Gomez's brain is up for sale for a transplant it will the cheapest because it is most used.

Well, I am quite sure the UM administrators have better and more expensive brains in the country. That perhaps is the reason why Gomez's resignation was accepted.