UM student lodges police report, claims varsity gave 'unsatisfactory answer' over sexual harassment claim

KUALA LUMPUR: A Universiti Malaya student has lodged a police report over alleged sexual harassment by a lecturer, claiming that she failed to get a satisfactory answer from the university.

The third-year student said she decided to make the report at the Pantai police station here on Wednesday (July 15), after the integrity unit of the university did not provide much information on the progress on her case, and nor could they disclose the punishment, if any, imposed on the alleged offender.

"I feel the explanation given failed to reflect the justice it deserves... The lack of attentiveness and transparency not only halted the pursuit of justice, but also affected my mental well-being," she told the press in front of the police station.

The victim claimed that she was sexually harassed by a senior lecturer in his office on June 3 last year.

She said a formal complaint was lodged with the university's integrity unit on July 1 last year.

"I did not receive any reply from the unit and on July 11,2019, I went to the office to enquire about it. They told me they received the email but did not take any relevant action," she said.

Universiti Malaya Student Union (Umsu) president Muhammad Haziq Azfar Ishak, who was with the alleged victim, said that Umsu found that justice for the victim had not been restored.

He said that Umsu was told during a meeting with the integrity unit that the investigation had concluded and the verdict was given last month, the same month the lecturer retired.

"We were told that it was confidential and could not be disclosed, ” said Muhammad Haziq, who was present with a few others, including the Academic Staff Association of UM president Dr Aznijar Ahmad Yasid and University of Malaya Association of New Youth representative Yap Wen Qing.

"The union was informed that the unit required the victim to provide an additional letter to receive more information regarding the progress of the case.

"The union is of opinion that the mechanism does not reflect transparency and the unit should review its current procedure," he said.

He urged the UM administration to initiate more radical preventive measures to ensure a safe place for students on campus.