Indian studies department to remain at Malaysian varsity (Lead)
August 26th, 2009 - 5:34 pm ICT by IANSKuala Lumpur, Aug 26 (IANS) Universiti Malaya will retain the Indian Studies department at the university, vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon has assured representatives of people of Indian origin here.
K. Arumugam, coordinator of 128 NGOs representing people of Indian origin in the country, said the vice-chancellor had also indicated that the university was in the process of recruiting a person proficient in Tamil to head the department.
A controversy arose after the university replaced department head S. Kumaran, who retired, with Mohammed Raduan Mohammed Ariff, the first man not of Indian origin to head the department. The uproar in the community became louder when there was talk of replacing the Indian Studies department with a South Asian Studies department, The Star said Wednesday.
A three-member Indian delegation had a one-hour discussion with Jasmon. They handed over a memorandum asking that an Indian expert be appointed as head of the department.
“The vice-chancellor has agreed to consider a member of the existing staff to head the department if they can get together and agree among themselves.
“He was very frank and patient. He assured us that his intention was only to make it better and not to destroy the department,” Arumugam was quoted as saying.
Nearly two million Malaysian Indians constitute about 8 percent of the population of Malaysia. The bulk of Indian origin people in Malaysia are Tamils.
- Malaysian varsity to retain Indian studies department - Aug 26, 2009
- Universiti Malaya's Indian Studies dept will be maintained: VC - Aug 26, 2009
- University of Malaya to appoint new head for Indian Studies Department - Jul 31, 2009
- Malay Indian NGOs want Indian expert to head university department - Aug 22, 2009
- Universiti Malaya's Indian Studies Dept losing popularity due to power struggle - Aug 02, 2009
- Heated row among Universiti Malaya's teaching staff led to non-Indian HoD's appointment - Aug 04, 2009
- MIS asks Universiti Malaya to appoint Indian-origin head - Jul 08, 2009
- Indian Studies Department of Malay university involved in another scandal - Aug 05, 2009
- MIC urges Universiti Malaya to maintain its Indian Studies dept's name - Aug 29, 2009
- Retain name of Indian Studies Department, university urged - Aug 29, 2009
- Book burning by Malaysian Indians sparks debate - Jan 19, 2011
- Indian NGOs want Malay Govt. to save Indian Studies Dept at University of Malaya - Aug 18, 2009
- Peshawar varsity teachers sexually harassing girls: Lawmaker - Apr 20, 2011
- Peshawar varsity teachers sexually harassing girls: Lawmaker (Lead) - Apr 20, 2011
- Meghalaya varsity students press for V-C's ouster - Oct 31, 2010
Tags: asian studies department, controversy, first man, indian delegation, indian expert, indian origin, indians, intention, kuala lumpur, kumaran, malaya, memorandum, mohammed, ngos, population of malaysia, south asian studies, tamil, two million, uproar, vice chancellor