In a statement, USM said the special panel chaired by Dr Raymond Azman Ali from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) had carried out a detailed investigation into the process of examination, as well as interviews with the academic staff involved and witnesses.

USM said the panel which was set up in July, had started the inquiry in August, followed by visits to the Medical Sciences Research Centre in September to check the relevant documents and hold meetings with the management, the dean, chairman of the programme, students and alumni.

The panel was set up to scrutinise the level of integrity practised in the process and the examination system currently conducted for every candidate after a postgraduate medical student had alleged favouritism, bullying and discrimination by some lecturers and professors at the university.

Other members of the five-member panel comprised medical experts who represented public universities, the health ministry, Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Academy of Medicine Malaysia, and the private sector.

“USM had also received allegations through the e-Aduan at USM’s Medical Sciences Research Centre about discrimination in the examination process,” said USM in the statement.