Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) today criticised the way Universiti Malaya (UM) allegedly handled sexual assault cases involving foreign exchange students.

A Japanese student had recently come forth to criticise UM for failing to adequately address his complaints, as well as those of another Taiwanese student, of sexual assault by the same perpetrator while on exchange at UM.

Known only as Yo M, the Japanese student claimed that he was urged by the university’s International Student Centre (ISC) officer to retract his police report. The officer denied Yo's allegations.

Gerak said sexual assault cases must not be covered up just to maintain the "good name" of any university.

"All complaints must be thoroughly investigated and action must be taken as soon as possible.

“If the said officers are found to have erred in their actions, the university (should) be responsible enough to offer an apology to the alleged sexual assault victims who were twice victimised - first, by the perpetrator and, second, by the very institution that is supposed to protect them,” its chairperson Zaharom Nain said in a statement.

The university has declined to expound on the cases as investigations are underway.

While acknowledging the importance of due process, Gerak said it was no excuse for discouraging victims from lodging police reports.

“(Due process) need not be at the expense of denying the rights of a complainant to lodge a police report.

“A sexual attack is traumatic for any victim as it violates their bodily integrity.

“The victim is made even more vulnerable by the institution when it fails to protect him/her or provide proper redress,” the statement read.

Previously, the Universiti Malaya Academic Staff Association (PKAUM) came forth to criticise UM for not adhering to existing policies concerning sexual harassment cases.

A former vice-chancellor of the university had also labelled the university’s alleged actions to discourage the reporting of sexual assault as “strange”.

Zaharom thus urged UM to investigate its own actions.

“Gerak calls for an investigation into the mishandling of the sexual assault cases to send a message that UM does not condone such unethical and unprofessional action in the name of the university,” he said. 

In a public statement released yesterday on the issue, UM pleaded for the public’s patience and promised it was “taking matters of this nature seriously and all complaints will be processed thoroughly”.

A follow-up statement is expected.