Heated row among Universiti Malaya's teaching staff led to non-Indian HoD's appointment

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Aug. 4 (ANI): A heated squabble among the teaching staff of Universiti Malaya's Indian Studies Department is said to be the reason behind the appointment of a non-Indian head of the department.

In a report directed to the education ministry, UM vice-chancellor Dr Gauth Jasmon had said that the department staff had argued in May over the deserving candidate to fill the post.

"The eight academic staff of the Indian Studies Department are divided and often conflicting in their views. This caused a lot of trouble in the election of a department head that both sides could agree on," The Star Online quoted sources, as saying.

Professor Mohammad Raduan Mohd Ariff was appointed the acting head of the department after Professor Dr S. Kumaran retired.

In his report, Dr Gauth reportedly mentioned that while he appointed Professor Raduan as acting head, he had directed the faculty dean Professor Mohammad Redzuan Othman and Professor Raduan to immediately resolve the situation.

They were "to ensure that unethical behaviour would not happen again."

Dr Gauth also directed them to come up with more strategies to develop the department's academic programmes and research works, apart from ordering the recruitment of more experienced and capable academicians.

A working paper on the issue was being prepared by the ministry to be distributed to the Cabinet soon. (ANI)