We have given him his 30-day dismissal notice, says V-C

PETALING JAYA: The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) lecturer responsible for the controversial lecture slides that disparaged Hindus and Sikhs has been sacked.

UTM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Prof Wahid Omar said the lecturer’s 30-day dismissal notice came into effect yesterday.

“He is still at the university as he still needs to serve the one-month notice,” he said when contacted.

Asked why the dismissal was not immediate, Dr Wahid said the procedure had to be done according to the contract, which meant giving the staff a month’s notice.

“His contract will only end in April next year but we have the authority to expedite his dismissal.

“Besides, we are being more considerate to him by giving him more time to pack,” he added.

The lecturer’s dismissal was first revealed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh in an interview with BFM's programme The Breakfast Grille yesterday morning.

He said that the ministry viewed the matter seriously and needed to take “stringent action”.

The lecture materials, which went viral, portrayed Hindus as dirty and misrepresented the history of Sikhism, triggering an uproar.

The slides were part of the university’s Tamadun Islam dan Tamadun Asia course (Titas), which is mandatory for tertiary students. Idris said the lecturer was not using the co-curriculum provided by the ministry.

“We are telling the lecturers that they have to be in line with government policies,” he said.

Based on a UTM report sighted by The Star, the university is currently reviewing its Titas module, which includes appointing experts in Indian, Sikh and Chinese civilisation studies.

The university is also closely monitoring the Titas learning methods and reviewing its model according to the syllabus approved by the ministry.