A 'technical error' by a website resulted in a plagiarism claim by a former student against the vice-chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) vice chancellor Dr Nordin Kardi was first implicated when website IslamHadhari.net published an article entitled 'Mengurus Kejayaan: Isu dan Cabaran' (Managing Success: Issues and Challenges) attributing it to him.

The article was stated as Nordin's seminar working paper presented in Genting International Convention Centre on May 7, 2006.

However it turned out that the article was an almost exact replication of Muhtar Suhaili's 'Mahasiswa dan Tanggungjawab Menguruskan Kejayaan' (Graduates and their responsibility in managing successes) that was published in education magazine, Bicara Siswa in April 2004.

Former International Islamic Universiti Malaysia (IIUM) student council president Muhtar first wrote about this matter in his blog and was sent to other websites asking for clarification on this matter.

"If this plagiarism is true, I feel it is unhealthy and affects my intellectual property rights. It also contradicts the spirit of Islam Hadhari (progressive Islam)," he wrote.

Nordin subsequently discovered this matter and responded to Muhtar's blog entry.

"I just found out about this issue and it has nothing to do with me. Muhtar knows me.

"Am I that bad a writer that I have to plagiarise Muhtar's work? Is that logical?" he said in the comment box in Muhtar's blog.

Malaysiakini was unable to get Nordin for comments today.

Unintentional error

The 'plagiarised' article was taken down six weeks ago but IslamHadhari.net's apology was only issued on Monday, citing 'technical error' as the reason.

"(We) are sorry to Muhtar. It was an unintentional technical error committed by us.

"This issue should not be sensationalised any further to tarnish (Nordin's) reputation. We are also publicly apologising to (Nordin)," the apology read.

Muhtar also issued an apology at the same time to Nordin expressing regret that this had happened.

"I am thankful to (Nordin) for telling me personally that he was not involved in this issue. This means IslamHadhari.net is fully responsible for publishing the article," he wrote.

IslamHadhari.net is a website focusing on Islamic issues based on the progressive Islam idea propounded by Prime Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.