An independent scholar has criticised the management of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for apparently failing to take action against lecturer Solehah Yaacob, whose comments allegedly damaged the reputation of the university and its rector, Osman Bakar.
Sharifah Munirah Alatas said Osman, IIUM’s seventh rector, was a globally respected scholar, and cautioned against tarnishing his or the university’s reputation with baseless claims.
“Many admire Osman Bakar, both within Malaysia and internationally. His appointment as rector last year was a significant step forward for Malaysia’s public higher education under the Madani government,” Munirah said in a statement.
“Yet, the top management at IIUM has not taken serious action to stop this person from spewing nonsense and bringing disrepute to the profession. She surfaced last year to embarrass, and she is doing so again this year.
“I do not want inept professors to tarnish the university’s name so publicly, freely, and without remorse,” she added.
Munirah welcomed comments by higher education minister Zambry Abd Kadir and IIUM’s academic staff association (ASA), both calling for disciplinary action against the lecturer for breaching academic standards.
She noted that ASA had made a similar call in September 2024 after the same lecturer made questionable remarks on another historical matter.
“However, despite these statements, this errant lecturer continues to make unsubstantiated claims, further embarrassing the academic community. It is now up to IIUM to exercise its autonomy and clean up the mess,” she said.
A video of Solehah, an Arabic language lecturer, claiming that the Romans learned shipbuilding from the Malays has gone viral. She was believed to have made the remarks in response to the discovery of a 13th-century shipwreck near Pulau Melaka last Friday.
Zambry said university lecturers should remain within their areas of expertise and avoid making claims beyond their specialisation.
He added that professors should serve as credible reference points for society, similar to specialist doctors who provide opinions only within their respective fields.
IIUM’s academic staff association also urged the university’s management to take firm action against academics whose conduct or public statements breach ethical, professional, or academic standards, Malaysiakini reported.
