Many will readily agree with Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang that immediate action has to be taken following the latest Times Higher Education Supplement (Thes) world university rankings released yesterday which showed Malaysian universities performed badly over the past one year.

According to the latest rankings, Universiti Malaya (UM) has plunged from its 89th place last year to 169th position, while Universiti Sains Malaysia fell out of the 200 ranking altogether from last year's 111th position.

The country's oldest university, UM - among 16 others universities - shared the billing with the Shanghai Jiaotong University and Novosibirsk State University, Russia. Harvard University retained its place as the top institution in the world overall.

Lim called it a "national shame" in a statement today as Australia, in a sharp contrast, has 17 universities which are internationally regarded as better than the premier Malaysian university, UM, on the ranking.

"The latest Thes' world university rankings is the latest confirmation of the deep and prolonged crisis of higher education in Malaysia. The country and government must end the denial syndrome particularly the Higher Education Ministry," he said.

The veteran politician added that the higher education system in Malaysia is "very sick indeed" and called for analysis and "soul-searching" on the direction, as well as the future of higher education in the country to begin immediately.

To begin with, he urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to establish a royal commission of inquiry comprising reputable academicians and respectable Malaysians into the shocking decline in the quality of local universities as highlighted in the Thes' ranking.

Drop disciplinary actions

In another development, human rights group Suaram has launched an online petition to support the undergraduates of 17 public universities in a move to pressure the campus authorities to drop charges and disciplinary actions against vocal students over the campus polls irregularities.

"We are disappointed with the subsequent persecution against students who have been struggling for campus democracy and calling for free and fair campus elections," Suaram coordinator Chang Lih Kang (left) said when contacted.

"The online petition was initiated to ask the authorities to investigate allegations on the flawed campus elections and malpractices by the university authorities and to demand that this year's campus elections be declared null and void," he added.

Chang said fresh polls for all 17 local public universities should be called to replace the one held in September and the new elections shall be conducted and monitored by independent bodies to be in line with the principle of transparency and natural justice.

At press time, a total of 93 individuals have signed the online petition, which is addressed to Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Salleh.

So far nine undergraduates from three universities are facing disciplinary actions over the campus election and more expected to be hauled up in what has been described as the campus 'witch-hunt'.