Kuala Lumpur, Aug 26 (IANS) Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon has assured representatives of NGOs representing people of Indian origin that the Indian Studies department in the university will be maintained.
The NGOs’ coordinator K. Arumugam said the vice-chancellor had also indicated 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 delegation representing 128 NGOs had a one-hour discussion with Jasmon. They handed over a memorandum asking that an Indian expert be appointed as head of the department.

Arumugam said Jasmon had stated the decision on a name change would be made by the academics and the faculty.

“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 said.