Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia professor Ridhuan Tee Abdullah wishes to meet with his accuser following allegations he plagiarised other people's work for his academic performance, and said those making such claims were out to "character assassinate" him.

Ridhuan, who is also an Utusan Malaysia columnist, said those who made the allegations were people who did not agree with what he writes.

He challenged those who do not agree with his arguments or views to state their arguments and not to make blind accusations.

NONE DAP senator Ariffin Omar ( left ) told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today that Universiti Pertahanan elevated Ridhuan to professor despite investigating accusations that he plagiarised other people's writings for his academic work.

"Come and face me upfront. If they are not happy with my arguments why resort with such character assassination? Arguments can be countered through proper argument," Ridhuan told Malaysiakini .

He said such allegations would not hurt his credibility as an academician.

Ariffin, who had taught Strategic Studies at the same university between 2010 and 2013, claimed the vice-chancellor did not take the charges of plagiarism seriously and instead Ridhuan was promoted.

"It was like a big slap on the face of academicians," he added.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok also showed some proof of the plagiarism charge against Ridhuan by producing the original work of one Airil Yasreen Mohd Yassin, which she compared with Ridhuan's work.

Kok pointed out that the Utusan Malaysia columnist even copied the grammatical errors that appeared in the original article, and at times, plagiarising an entire paragraph or page.

Ridhuan Tee promoted to prof despite allegations