A farewell dinner for Universiti Malaya (UM) academic Dr Edmund Terence Gomez revealed the extent of frustration about the state of academia in Malaysia, as shown by the bungled handling of his leave application to head a United Nations research project.

Outspoken Penang executive councillor Dr Toh Kin Woon ( left ) led the charge at the dinner organised by DAP in Kelana Jaya last night, with a lecture on how a vice-chancellor (VC) should handle the responsibilities of this post.

He said UM VC Prof Hashim Yaacob should have been sufficiently on the ball to approve Gomez's leave application, rather than wait for the government to intervene in the matter.

Gomez was forced to tender his resignation on May 8. Following public calls for the decision to be reconsidered, the government rejected his letter and approved the application for two years' unpaid leave.

"A good vice-chancellor (VC) should be able to recognise the importance of academic excellence," Toh said to loud applause from his audience of about 300.

"I don't understand why the UM VC cannot recognise it (the importance of being recognised as having excellent academicians). This is basic."

Toh was an economics lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1972 till 1980, when he joined the political party, Gerakan. He now heads the Penang economic planning, education and human resources development committee.

Citing his economic planning experience in Penang, he said the quality of graduates today "leaves much to be desired" and does not meet industry demands.

"People should be allowed to (express) dissent and (to ask) question(s), as this is a source of knowledge," he said.

Instead, he said universities now stress on "compliance and conformity" and thus do not provide room for creativity or competitiveness.

'Repeal UUCA'

Other speakers were DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng, malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan, UKM professor of political science P Ramasamy, former Malaysian Bar Council president Zainur Zakaria, PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli, US academic Dr Bridget Welsh and Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management president Prof Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid.

All expressed support for Gomez and urged all parties to work together for the reform of public universities.

In his speech, Gomez said the fundamental reason that Hashim was appointed as UM VC was because of his promise to bring students back to supporting the government.

He said it was not surprising to see the manipulation of last year's UM campus elections, which finally saw the return of the 'pro-government' camp to the helm of student politics.

Gomez, who was yesterday told by Abdullah to continue speaking out, urged the government to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act in order to allow academicians and students the freedom (to express their views and to take part in organised activities).

He said students should be allowed to become involved in politics so that they understand core problems of society.

Before the dinner began Gomez, who was accompanied by his wife Dr Sharmani Patricia Gabriel, received a bouquet of flowers from DAP.

While the dinner was initially intended as a show of support for Gomez, the government's dramatic about-turn last Friday saw the event turning into a celebration instead.

Gomez leaves tonight for Geneva to begin work on the research project on identity, conflict and social cohension. He will be based at the UN Research Institute for Social Development.