I did not resign, I was sacked, says UM’s Prof Redzuan
BY ZULKIFLI SULONG
Published: 5 July 2014
Despite being removed from his post at Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections, Datuk Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman said he was prepared to contribute his expertise to the centre. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 5, 2014.Professor Datuk Dr Mohammad Redzuan Othman has confirmed that he was sacked as director of Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMcedel), pointing out that his contract was terminated before it ended.
His assertion makes nonsense of the claim by Universiti Malaya that his tenure was not renewed as he would retire next year.
The political scientist told The Malaysian Insider that on December 28 last year, he received a letter stating that he would continue as the UMcedel director from January 2, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
"My contract as UMcedel director ends at the end of this year. I would not have retired yet.
"I do not know how to interpret this but the issue is, why was my tenure terminated?
"Don't tell me the minister would issue a letter asking me to resign, with the excuses and information in it.”
The Malaysian Insider reported on Monday that the Education Ministry had told Redzuan to quit as director of UMcedel, while his tenure as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in the university was also not renewed.
Over the past few years, UMcedel's survey findings on Malaysian politics have irked Putrajaya for their uncomplimentary analyses on the ruling Barisan Nasional.
UM had insisted there was no interference in Redzuan's removal, a claim challenged by former deputy higher education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
"I knew about this from the beginning. I know Professor Redzuan was called by the management of the university and he was informed that the Education Ministry was not very happy with him and he was asked to resign," he said, adding that he later confirmed this with the university's vice-chancellor (VC).
"To the best of my knowledge, the VC was contacted by someone from the ministry and the message was that Redzuan should not continue as the director of UMcedel."
Despite his removal, Redzuan said he would continue to serve the centre if there was a need for his expertise.
"I will continue to offer my services to UMcedel if they need me although I am no longer the director," he added.
Redzuan was also expected to continue as dean for the faculty after his term ended in June as he had received the highest number of votes by his colleagues to retain the position.
However, the university’s management decided not to renew his tenure, giving the excuse that the professor would be retiring next year when he turned 60.
"I am sure he received more than 100 votes from the 140 academic staff we have," an academic from the university told The Malaysian Insider, questioning why the number of votes was never revealed by the administration.
Universiti Malaya's Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Arshad Ayub rejected the suggestion that the varsity was like an Umno branch. – The Malaysian Insider pic, July 5, 2014.Redzuan is said to have taken the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to great heights. It is now the second best faculty in the varsity after medicine in terms of its graduates' employability.
The academic source said he was sure that UM Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Arshad Ayub had played a part in getting the university to put pressure on Redzuan.
"UM is just like an Umno branch to Arshad," the source said.
"When Professor Ghauth Jasmon was the vice-chancellor, Arshad had demanded that Redzuan leave UMcedel but Ghauth did not entertain him," he said, adding that the former VC believed that the university should free of political interference.
Ghauth ended his tenure as the VC at the end of last year and was replaced by Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin.
Arshad, however, denied that he had pressured Redzuan to resign.
Contacted by The Malaysian Insider, he said that he had not called for the UMcedel director's resignation or pressured anyone else on the matter.
"I have no part in pressuring the University to ask Professor Redzuan to resign and did not do so during Tan Sri Ghauth Jasmon’s time or at any time.
"To say that UM is like an Umno branch is not true and uncalled for," he said. – July 5, 2014.
Same with all Umno people.
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