Former Universiti Malaya (UM) vice chancellor Ghauth Jasmon said the university’s alleged move to discourage students from lodging police reports on sexual assault is “strange”.

A Japanese student, Yo M, recently alleged he was advised by the university to retract his police report on his sexual assault by another foreign student while on exchange at UM.

A Taiwanese student, also an alleged sexual assault victim when on exchange at UM, was also urged by the university not to report his case to the police at all, Yo claimed.

“I don’t think the victim is required to withdraw. (The move seems) strange to me,” Ghauth told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Ghauth, who served from 2008-2013, said he had much experience in dealing with sexual harassment cases at UM and confirmed the existence of a specific policy on sexual assault at the top public university.

“Yes there is (a policy) and it applies to all (local and international) students,” he told Malaysiakini.

UM’s legal unit has been contacted regarding the details of the policy.

Meanwhile, the UM Academic Staff Association (Pkaum) came forth to criticise the lack of an integrated response by the university. They claimed existing procedures for dealing with sexual harassment cases had not been strictly adhered to.

When contacted Tuesday, UM’s International Student Centre Project Officer Gamal Ali Saleh Al-Mwald, however, denied he asked Yo to withdraw his report.

Embassies aware of sexual assault cases

The Japanese and Taiwanese embassies said they found out about the cases through media reports, but Yo claimed he lodged a complaint with the Japanese embassy on May 22.

Both embassies said they will respond to the news portal's requests for comment soon.

Malaysiakini understands that a hearing was held by the UM disciplinary board for Yo and the suspect was suspended for one week.

A hearing for the Taiwanese student, scheduled for last Tuesday, had to be postponed to a yet-to-be-confirmed date in July as both the victim and suspect were unavailable.

Yo and the Taiwanese student have left Malaysia.

In his statement on Facebook dated June 16, Yo had detailed his sexual assault by another foreign student and expressed his discontent over the way the university acted in response.

He also claimed he was told that the institution's reputation was “more important than students’ safety” by ISC director Salmi Masita Shaari.

Salmi did not respond to Malaysiakini's request for comment.

UM’s International and Corporate Relations office confirmed the complaints have been given “due process” but declined to comment as investigations are underway.