Australia’s major news outlets today gave full-fledged reports on the widespread criticisms against the Perth-based Curtin University for conferring a honorary doctorate of letters on Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysian prime minister.The two Fairfax Media-owned major dailies mentioned a photo of the university degree being torn up. Malaysiakini’s check found that the photo has been widely circulated on Facebook, including on the university’s page.
The online news portal WA Today, also owned by Fairfax group, reported that a video of a degree being burnt “in disgust” was posted on YouTube.
However, the authenticity of the documents cannot be independently verified.
"The award prompted a flood of outraged comments on Curtin University’s Facebook page, many claiming the university’s reputation had been tarnished,” read the SMH report.
"A Facebook page, titled ‘Boycott Curtin University Until Rosmah Mansor’s Doctorate Revoked’, has 1,697 ‘likes,’ and hundreds of posts,” read the WA Today report.
The SMH also quoted a critic who described Rosmah as only entitled for “a doctorate in shopping” for living a lavish lifestyle“I would agree to give Rosmah a doctorate in shopping only. I am ashamed now to be a graduate of Curtin,” read the newspaper’s quote.
The three newspapers also described Rosmah as a having a reputation as a big spender, while elaborating on her A$100,000 spending at one Sydney fashion boutique in January, the US$24 million diamond ring and the US$200,000 designer handbag.
All the accusations have been denied by Rosmah.
The WA Today reported Malaysian students of pointing out Permata as a government- funded project that is fraught with corruption and over-spending issues.
“This would be the equivalent of Julia Gillard’s partner using Australian taxpayers’ money to set up day-cares all over Australia and receives an award from a foreign university for his philanthropical work,” the paper quoted an open letter written by a former student.
Curtin University yesterday apologised for referring to Rosmah as first lady of Malaysia, but defended the award to Rosmah as she had done a “distinguished service” in early childhood learning.After days of bombardment by Malaysians on its Facebook page, the Curtin University today suspended comments on its Facebook wall.
“Due to continuing infractions of our terms of use and Facebook’s terms and conditions, and the risk of breaching both the Defamation Act 2006 and the Commonwealth Criminal Code, we have unfortunately no choice but to temporarily suspend comments on this wall,” it said in a Facebook posting.
The suspension comes after repeated warnings to netizens to be civil when commenting on the university’s honorary doctorate award to Rosmah. -malaysiakini
Students threaten Curtin boycott: Big-spender Rosmah deserves PhD only for shopping!
Curtin University slammed over Rosmah award
An Australian university has faced online criticism since it gave an honorary degree to the Malaysian premier’s wife, who has been ridiculed over reports of her excessive shopping sprees.
Western Australia’s Curtin University on Friday suspended public comments on its Facebook “wall” after days of verbal attacks over the award from users in Malaysia and Australia.
The university awarded Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, an honorary degree on Saturday for what it said were her contributions to early-childhood education.
Rosmah is a controversial figure in Malaysia, where she is routinely portrayed by critics as out of touch with ordinary Malaysians amid reports of her extravagant tastes, and web users have pounced on the affair.
“How much Rosmah paid for this PhD?” one Facebook user wrote on the university’s page, before submissions were blocked. Another admonished the school to “Get your fact(s) right before giving out your cheap toilet certificate.”
Several Curtin degree-holders pledged to tear up their own certificates in disgust, while a separate Facebook site called “Boycott Curtin University till Rosmah Mansor’s Doctorate Revoked” also was set up.
Rosmah has faced ridicule in Malaysia’s independent online media over her alleged shopping exploits at a time when many Malaysians are concerned about inflation. Recent accusations include reports that she spent tens of thousands of dollars on clothes from an Australian designer and bought a $24 million diamond ring and a $200,000 designer handbag.
She has denied the accusations.
Curtin vice-chancellor Jeanette Hacket defended the degree award in a statement on Facebook, saying Rosmah “was recognised as the founder and driving force behind” early childhood centres in Malaysia. But the school said Friday it had “no choice but to temporarily suspend comments” on its Facebook wall.
It cited “continuing infractions of our own terms of use and Facebook’s terms and conditions, and the risk of breaching” Australian and Commonwealth defamation codes.
Rosmah has responded by saying her critics might be “jealous” over the degree.
“I don’t want to handle personal petty issues. It is all out of frustration. It is all out of… I don’t know… Maybe jealousy,” she said.- AFP
source:FMT
Curtin suspends Rosmah's doctorate comments on FB
After days of bombardment by Malaysians on Curtin University’s Facebook page, the institution of higher learning has suspended comments on its Facebook wall.
“Due to continuing infractions of our terms of use and Facebook’s terms and conditions, and the risk of breaching both the Defamation Act 2006 and the Commonwealth Criminal Code, we have unfortunately no choice but to temporarily suspend comments on this wall,” it said in a Facebookposting. The suspension comes after repeated warnings to netizens to be civil when commenting on the university’s honorary doctorate award to Rosmah Mansor, the wife Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
“Hi all. We have issued several requests to comply with our ‘rules of engagement’ on this wall.
"There are now so many personal attacks, allegations of ciminal activity, and hate mongering that we are obliged under the Defamation Act 2006 to remove this type of content.“Again we ask kindly - play nice and please refer any comment on the matter of the Malaysian honorary award to this page. Thanks for your understanding at this time,” it posted, two hours prior to the suspension.
Though users can no longer post directly to Curtin University’s Facebook wall, comments to the university’s posting is still possible.
One user, Jenish Pandya, replied to the suspension announcement: “I can’t help but laugh at this situation, you want to engage with students through social media and don’t want them to post comments. Social media goes both ways. Good luck guys in damage control.”Curtin University has earned flak on the Internet since last Monday, a day after presenting Rosmah with the award.
However, the university had tolerated the comments and resorted to deleting “personally insulting and repetitive comments” until today.
Photos and videos have also surfaced on the Internet, showing what appeared to be Curtin University’s certificates being shredded or burnt. - malaysiakini
Curtin gantung komen tentang Rosmah di FB
"Disebabkan pelanggaran berterusan terhadap terma penggunaan dan syarat serta terma Facebook, dan risiko pencabulan Akta Fitnah 2006 serta Kanun Jenayah Komanwel, maka kami tiada pilihan kecuali menggantung sementara komen di dinding ini," katanya dalam satu pos di Facebook.Penggantungan itu dibuat ekoran amaran berkali-kali terhadap warga siber ketika membuat komen tentang anugerah ijazah Doktor Kehormat Persuratanan universiti itu kepada Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, isteri Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Menurutnya lagi, terdapat begitu banyak serangan peribadi, tuduhan mengenai aktiviti ciminal, dan kebencian yang disebar, dan pihaknya perlu mematuhi Akta Fitnah 2006 untuk membuang kandungan seperti ini.
Walaupun pengguna tidak lagi boleh memberi komen terus di dinding FacebookUniversiti Curtin, tetapi komen boleh dibuat di posting universiti berkenaan.
source:malaysiakini
cheers.
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