Group demands update on sexual harassment probe into UM prof

 NewGen UM says the university has yet to announce the outcome of its investigation despite stating last September that it was in its final stages.

Last September, UM announced that its investigation into sexual harassment allegations against a professor was almost complete.

PETALING JAYA:

A student group has urged Universiti Malaya (UM) to disclose the outcome of its internal investigation into sexual harassment allegations against a professor, saying students and the public have been left waiting for answers more than a year after the claims first surfaced.

The allegations, which emerged in December 2024, involved a professor accused of sharing explicit photos of himself with students.

Last September, UM announced that its investigation was almost complete, and that the investigation committee was preparing its report on the matter.

However, New Generation Universiti Malaya (NewGen UM) today noted that the outcome of the probe has not been made public.

“More than a year has passed, yet critical questions remain unanswered,” the group said in a statement.

NewGen UM also expressed concern that the professor had reportedly resumed academic duties, including assessing final-year projects and examinations.

It stated that allowing a lecturer facing sexual harassment allegations to continue exercising academic authority and evaluating students was a “clear failure” on the part of the university to safeguard student welfare and safety.

It also called on UM to suspend the professor from grading and assessment duties as well as strengthen campus safeguards against sexual harassment.

“A university is not only an institution of academic excellence. It must also be a space where every student feels safe, respected and protected from any form of abuse of power,” it said.

FMT has reached out to the university for comment.  - FMT