In light of a claim that the National Defence University (UPNM) had overlooked a plagiarism case, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has urged the Education Ministry to study the extent of plagiarism in all public universities.

The former academician contended that it is a widespread problem in the local academic scene and urged the ministry to also initiate a campaign to educate students on the definition and consequences of plagiarism.

“With the Pakatan Harapan government now, I think there must be some kind of mechanism to check the extent of plagiarism in public universities.

“....(But) even before they can look at the mechanism, there has not been a campaign in universities or anywhere to say plagiarism is something to be avoided like a plague because it is dishonesty, (because) it is a colossal crime in the academic world.

“I think the ministry could actually initiate it,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The DAP Perai assemblyperson, who was a political science professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) prior to entering politics, said such measures were necessary because, he claimed, both students and academicians were guilty of plagiarism.

He added that this situation was the result of failure on the part of the institutions to take stringent measures to address the issue.  

“The rules are very clear, if you are caught for plagiarism, you should be automatically expelled... but there has been no systematic attempt by the authorities to address plagiarism.

“In the long run, there is a tendency (to think) that there is nothing wrong with plagiarising, that there is nothing wrong with using other people’s work as your own,” he added.

Take allegations seriously

As for UPNM, Ramasamy said the university ought to properly address the recent series of allegations against it.

“These are serious allegations, one on sexual harassment and the other one is plagiarism, I think the university should be very, very serious about them.

“The ministry should actually tell the university to do something about it. There is no excuse for plagiarism in universities. You task universities to be academic institutions, centres for research and development,” he said.  

Malaysiakini previously reported that UPNM administrators were accused of fraud and abuse of power in their handling of the plagiarism case.

Its former vice-chancellor, Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, was also named as one of the people allegedly responsible. Zulkifli currently serves as the Armed Forces chief.

According to a police report lodged on the case, after being caught for plagiarising her final paper, a student had been allowed a two-week grace period to fix her work before re-submitting it to the marking panel.

However, during the grace period, a new marking panel was set up by the campus administration and it graded the student an A- for the same paper she was caught plagiarising.

She eventually graduated with a degree despite objections from several other academic staff.