Universiti Malaya (UM) has refuted an allegation that vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon practised cronyism in appointing two friends to high posts.

International and Corporate Relations Department director Kamila Ghazali, in reply Malaysiakini 's queries, said the appointments were based on merit and vast experience in their fields of expertise.

Padang Terap MP Mohd Nasir Zakaria had raised the matter in Parliament last week, claiming that the appointment of David Ngo Check Leng and David Asirvatham had not followed procedure.

Ngo is professor and dean of the Computer Science and Information Technology Faculty, while David is director of the Information Technology Centre.

The PAS parliamentarian had demanded a reply from both the Higher Education Ministry and Ghauth, as to the basis of the appointments.

Mohd Nasir asked why there was a need to hire lecturers from "outside" when there are equally capable faculty members within the university.

He levelled the suspicion that they were hired on the basis of the relationship between Ghauth, Ngo and David as they were once colleagues in the Multimedia University.

Mohd Nasir also claimed that Ngo is not capable of conversing in Bahasa Malaysia and further, that he does not have the minimum ‘credit' in the subject at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.

‘ Procedures followed'

On David, Mohd Nasir said there is no record in the university archives to show that he had attended an interview prior to being appointed.

The salary of RM18,000 is an extraordinary sum for an employee of a public university, said Mohd Nasir.

He called for the two to be suspended pending a probe to ensure that the university's autonomy has not been tainted by cronyism.

However, a check with UM revealed that Ngo's appointment was in accordance with a government circular last year, which states that "the appointment of an academic staff member on contract basis is within the authority of the university".

"Ngo is an outstanding academic and his professional appointment was approved by the Board of Directors," Kamila said in a statement.

She clarified that David was hired after an interview held Dec 2, 2008, and this had determined his suitability for his post.