A former Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) professor urged the Higher Education Ministry to form a committee to investigate allegations of discrimination, bullying and exam question leaks at the university’s medical faculty.
Omar Shawkataly called on the Higher Education Ministry to form such a committee, saying it is improper for USM to form its own committee as announced by the university earlier.
“The minister of the Higher Education Ministry should form an investigation committee, in accordance with the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971, to investigate the allegations and submit the report to the minister,” Omar said.
Referring to the UUCA, he said Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad is given the power to appoint a person or body to investigate any activities of any higher education institution.
Under the act, Omar said, the results of such an investigation would be reported to the minister, together with recommendations.
“The minister should not delay the issue any further as it may erode public confidence in the Higher Education Ministry and USM,” Omar told Malaysiakini.
He reiterated that it is improper for USM to form an investigation committee to probe its own activities as the committee may be biased.
The public expects an external committee, Omar insisted, to investigate the allegations and establish the truth.
Uphold integrity and transparency
Formerly working in USM’s chemical sciences programme, Omar earlier urged the university to reveal the members of a special committee that was formed to scrutinise its examination process.
He said USM has to do this to uphold the principles of integrity and transparency as well as to sustain public confidence.
He said this in response to USM vice-chancellor Prof Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan's statement that a special committee comprising external experts has been formed.
“When the government announced the setting up of special committees, it revealed the names of the panel members publicly, such as the special committee to report on the abolishment of the death penalty,” Omar said.
He also gave examples of the special committee on firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim and the special committee to investigate sexual harassment and bullying at education institutions.
Omar said public confidence is very important for the image of educational institutions such as USM, which has been an Apex University (Accelerated Programme for Excellence) since 2009.
It is also important for the representatives of the Health Ministry and Higher Education Ministry to be part of the process in the special committee, he added.
Omar was a USM senate member for five terms and sat on the university’s board of governors for two terms.
He spoke up after a postgraduate student, who was also a medical officer, alleged that exam questions were given to favoured students while those not in the lecturers’ good books were given low grades.
Exams involve external experts
Faisal had said the committee was established after a complaint was made by a Master’s candidate in the USM medical programme.
The vice-chancellor said the individual claimed there was unfairness in the evaluation system, which led to the candidate failing the examination.
Faisal said the university conducted an internal inquiry and discovered the examination system all the while had been conducted in a thorough manner, regulated by strict procedures, with external experts, and not by a sole lecturer.
“Following the announcement of examination results, candidates will be notified to provide feedback regarding which component of the examination requires revision, if any.
“Nevertheless, in order to uphold the integrity and to safeguard the good name of the university, USM has even established an external committee to really ensure that the system and the process are truly upright, and conducted with integrity and credibility,” Faisal added. - Mkini
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