KUALA LUMPUR: The government, through the Higher Education Ministry, is investigating allegations of racism levelled against Limkokwing University on social media, about a month ago.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said the probe is being conducted despite the university apologising over a controversial billboard it had installed showing its founder, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, as the "King of Africa."
"The Higher Education Ministry has taken immediate action by issuing a show-cause letter to the university, asking for clarification over the matter.
"Although the university has made an apology, the ministry is still continuing its investigation to ensure the good name and image of the country is preserved," she said in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.
Noraini said this in response to a question from Dr Ong Kian Ming (DAP-Bangi) who asked if the ministry would investigate racism allegations made against Limkokwing University.
Ong also asked Noraini to state the ministry's plans to protect the reputation of Malaysia's higher education sector.
"The ministry will not compromise on issues related to racism and will ensure all complaints on this matter are resolved.
"Section 89 (1) of the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555) clearly states that the membership of a private higher educational institution shall be opened to all persons irrespective of sex, race, religion, nationality or class.
"The ministry can take firm action against any quarter, including the management of a private higher education institution, who is found guilty of racism or similar (allegation)," she said.
Last month, a petition was launched demanding the removal of the billboard, which featured a digital illustration of Lim standing with a cheetah, surrounded by students in Sierra Leone.
The petition, among others, stated that the use of a cheetah and the reference of "king" perpetuate ideas of Africa as being a big jungle, and that it added a wrongful "animalistic" characterisation of the students.
The petition also claimed that the billboard perpetuated the notion that "black people needed saving, taking away their power and psychologically placing them in an inferior role."
Limkokwing University later responded to posts on Twitter stating that they have removed the billboard and regretted any "misunderstandings."
However, the episode led to former university employees making alarming accusations of racism amid Black Lives Matter and anti-racism protests around the world.
Former employee Malaz Elnaiem made a claim on her Twitter account that she was previously excluded from a photo-shoot that was supposed to highlight the university's diversity.
Her tweets were also accompanied by screenshots of conversations in a WhatsApp group allegedly belonging to the university's staff.
In an interview with the radio station BFM soon after, the university's management said it wasn't aware of the allegations and that it would have to check on the matter first. However, as of today, no statement has been made by the university.