JOHOR BAHRU June 22, 2016 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has taken immediate action on the issue related to the controversial teaching slides relating to the Hindu and Sikh religions in the TITAS course by setting up an internal investigation committee.

The committee is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr. Rose Alinda Alias, and comprises a number of academic leaders, including three members of different religion and race other than Malay Muslims. Their involvement is needed to look at the issue from a different perspective in a fair and transparent manner that does not favour any group or race.

Investigations carried out by the committee have facilitated in identifying the lecturer involved in the issue. The lecturer in question, a contract lecturer, was asked to give an explanation about the content of the teaching materials used in the TITAS course including slides, books and references to support the validity of the teaching content.

After being briefed both orally and in writing in terms of content and reference material used by the lecturer concerned, UTM has established an independent committee outside of UTM which comprises three TITAS specialists, Professor Zaid Ahmad and Professor Madya Dr Sarjit Singh a/l Darshah Singh of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Professor Dr Rajantheran a/l Muniandy from Universiti Malaya (UM) to assess the information submitted.

All information and materials provided by the lecturer concerned has been submitted to the external independent committee for review. The committee will then assess the validity of the material, and will subsequently determine the most suitable way the verified content can be delivered.

The external independent committee was also asked to make its assessment and provide a report. UTM will determine the appropriate action to be taken after receiving the report.