by Theleaders-Online | October 18, 2019 2:39 am
PUCHONG: Universiti Malaya (UM) has no absolute discretion in withholding or revoking a graduate’s scroll, said National Human Rights Society (Hakam) today.
In a statement, Hakam president Gurdial Singh Nijar also hurled brickbats at National Professors Council (MPN) for coming up with such statement which was misconceived under the law.
He said that the university’s senate must abide by the provisions under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, which provides for the adoption of a prescribed and supreme constitution.
“Under Section 53 of the constitution, the board of directors may recommend the revocation of an awarded degree. However, this power is circumscribed. First, the board must be of the opinion that the graduate is guilty of ‘scandalous conduct’.
“Such label will only come into place if the student had given false information to obtain his or her degree,” said Gurdial.
Earlier today, MPN president Datuk Raduan Che Rose said each university senate had the authority to give approval on the awarding of degrees based on the respective universities’ rules.
“Everyone has their own right, either the students or the universities.
“The awarding or revocation of degrees is the right of the university senate. As long as it has not been fully awarded, it is possible for the university to take action based on what the student had done,” Raduan was reported saying.
Gurdial, who was a former UM lecturer, said the decision to withhold or revoke a graduate’s degree must be made on a recommendation by not less than two-thirds of the board members and the report must be submitted to the chancellor.
“And the student must be given an opportunity to be heard before taking any action.
“But in this case, the protest by the student awarded the degree does not fall within the misconduct for which his scroll can be revoked,” he said.
“Therefore, any arbitrary action advocated by MPN, UM or other bodies not only goes against the law but also goes against the spirit of academic freedom,” he said.
On Mon, civil engineering graduate Wong Yan Ke held a placard during UM convocation ceremony calling for his vice chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim to resign following the latter’s incendiary remarks against the non-Malays during the Malay Dignity Congress.
The university and several other have lodged police reports against Wong and the latter is currently being investigated under the Penal Code for hurling insults to break up peace.
By G Vinod
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