MP wants Utem, VC to apologise over 'romantic liaisons' debacle

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong has called for Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (Utem) and its vice-chancellor to apologise over remarks about student-faculty romances.

This came after Utem vice-chancellor Massila Kamalrudin was reported to have told students to keep such liaisons private, with the university later claiming that the remarks were taken out of context.

Khoo (above) said Massila and Utem’s conduct showed a lack of professionalism.

"I urge Masilla to apologise for her remarks as a sincere admission of her mistake. I believe as a human being nobody would escape from making mistakes, thus an apology would be sufficient to end the conflict," he said in a statement today.

Apologising does not erase her contributions but instead signals courage as a leader, he added.

"At the same time, Utem should also issue an apology for defending Massila’s remarks.

"As a respected higher education institution, it should have taken a moral high ground by acknowledging the mistake and addressing the public with a promise that another episode of such an event would not happen in the future," he said.

Meant as moral advice

According to Free Malaysia Today, a now-deleted video had Massila telling students that "if you want to flirt, even with the dean, do it outside (of the campus)”.

Utem in response said the video was edited, and that the vice-chancellor was merely advising students to mind their conduct and avoid immoral behaviour.

The university further alleged that Massila was likely the victim of a smear campaign "initiated by an individual or group dissatisfied with a Utem circular which makes it mandatory for academicians to write indexed journals every year."

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