Ridhuan Tee, neither gentleman nor role model for officers, says Teresa Kok

Fresh from winning a battle with former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo in court today, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (pic) has declared war on controversial lecturer Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, saying that he is “neither a gentleman nor fit to be a role model for future military officers”.

She said while her criticism of Tee, an associate professor at the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM), was based on facts, the latter had instead resorted to rhetoric and personal attacks against her when he called her a “kiasu spinster” in his column published in yesterday's Malay daily “Sinar Harian”.

Kok had posed a question in Parliament to Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri if Tee had indeed taught “ethnic cleansing” to his students at the university, weeks after she had alleged that Tee had plagiarised an article written by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Dr Airil Yasreen Mohd Yassin.

Without naming names, Tee had written in his column that the “kiasu spinster” who attacked him in Parliament should continue to study and obtain more degrees.

“I read his series of articles before I made my speech during the policy budget debate in Parliament,” said Kok, adding that she had also produced evidence where Tee had apparently copied an article by Airil from the latter's website named “Airil Sametok”.

She said it is regrettable to see that Tee, a university professor, "stooping so low", in resorting to racist and gender-discriminatory remarks to attack her.

Saying that Tee should have rebutted her allegations with facts, Kok told The Malaysian Insider: “How is he going to gain respect and recognition from the academic circle and his students?

“Perhaps to his eyes, single women do not deserve respect, but I am loving my status!”

Kok posted on her Facebook page a statement criticising Tee and explained her accusation against him for the purported teaching and promoting of ethnic cleansing:

“One can refer to his piece; ‘Perlukah Memorial Tan Cheng Lock’ (Need We a Tan Cheng Lock Memorial)  which glorified the massacre of Jews by Hitler.

“How is he going to be a role model for the students and future military leaders from the university?”

DAP Wanita secretary and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching also came to Kok's defence, saying in a statement that it was shameful of Tee in addressing Kok as a “kiasu spinster”.

“This is totally uncalled for and proves that Ridhuan is unfit to lecture at National Defence University Malaysia.

“Ridhuan's sexist remark shows that he is a male chauvinist who cannot debate based on facts. It is totally unnecessary for him to come out with such gender-discriminatory remark in his reply to Teresa’s criticism.”

Teo urged Tee to retract his remark and apologise to Kok immediately. She also called for his removal as an associate professor in UPNM.

"It is worrying that if we allow him to continue teaching in UPNM, a male-dominated university, will our future military officers be gender sensitive and know how to respect females?"

Meanwhile, Kok also urged the UPNM to view issues of plagiarism seriously: “It is a very serious ethical offence in academia, therefore the university and the Education Ministry must not continue to 'close one eye' over Tee's conduct.”

Kok said if no serious measures are taken over the issue, it only amplifies a message of ignorance in upholding academic integrity and international standards.

Tee said yesterday that he was willing to be investigated over the allegations revealed in the parliamentary question by Kok: “My answer is, please conduct an investigation. I am ready any time alongside thousands of my students.”

The controversial lecturer earlier argued that ethnic cleansing was happening in Singapore, adding that there is proof over his claims.

"No need to go far,  just look at Muslims in Singapore. Their rights are already denied in their homeland, until they cannot even cover their 'aurat' in public institutions, such as schools."

He also clarified that he was teaching ethnic relations and Islamic and Asian civilisation at UPNM.

"Honestly as a Muslim, obviously, I did not teach that... If I were to promote ethnic cleansing, it clearly clashes with Islamic teachings," Tee said.

He also issued a warning to the academic who provided information to Kok, saying:

“I want to know who is behind this. If I catch the mastermind, this would be followed up by legal action towards the spinster and her allies.

“I am sure the professor who gave such information is in a hot seat. I do not attack if I was not attacked first.”