PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry’s Academic Integrity Committee is looking into allegations that a graduate’s research papers were lifted and published under the name of his supervisors.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said in light of the allegations, the ministry will conduct a thorough probe on the matter.
“We wish to reaffirm that the Education Ministry will not tolerate any breach of trust among any academic and teaching staff which could bring the Malaysian education system into disrepute,” Maszlee said in a statement today.
Postgraduate students and other students who feel they had been 'robbed' and wronged are urged to lodge an official complaint with the ministry, he said.
“The ministry is aware that there had been other recent allegations about despicable, unprofessional and, certainly, unethical practices.
“Universities are urged to take such matters seriously and put an end to any malpractice,” Mazlee said.
Dr Maszlee said academic supervisors were supposed to serve as advisors and mentors, and not abuse their power.
“The ministry would like to stress that chasing points to fulfil Key Performance Indexes (KPIs) cannot be a justification or excuse for this kind of conduct,” he added.
It was reported that a foreign graduate student had alleged that his research paper was published last year at a university’s official website under the names of his research paper supervisors.
The graduate student was quoted as saying that he had contacted the supervisor in question for an explanation but did not receive a satisfactory response.