Gerak criticised UTeM vice-chancellor Massila Kamalrudin for sharing inappropriate advice at a university programme gathering, in which she allegedly told students to keep their romantic liaisons with academic staff private.
“Gerak strongly believes that the buck must stop with the leaders of the university, headed by its vice-chancellor,” it said in a statement.
According to a now-removed YouTube video sighted by FMT, Massila told a crowd comprising university staff and students that “if you want to flirt, even with the dean, do it outside (of the campus)”.
“It’s also fine if you flirt with the female lecturers. Relationships are in Allah’s hands and there are students married to lecturers, but don’t create scandals in the university,” she said at a welcoming programme for new students.
Gerak said such a speech is out of place as it does not serve the purpose of motivating and preparing new students to overcome the challenges awaiting them in their studies.
“A vice-chancellor should be talking with new students and staff about the nature of the university, academic culture, undergraduate responsibilities and the academic challenges they need to overcome,” it said.
Gerak also urged the vice-chancellor of the National Defence University (UPMN) to resign over the alleged bullying of a cadet by a senior who pressed a hot iron against his chest.
The group said the alleged incident evoked memories of the bullying and murder of naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain in UPNM seven years ago.
“We find it reprehensible that the country’s sole national defence university cannot keep its students and cadets on the straight path.
“Both vice-chancellors owe the public a frank explanation, and not excuses or insincere apologies. We believe the honourable and decent thing to do would be for them to step down immediately,” it said.
Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said police had launched an investigation into the case at UPNM.
The armed forces also said they were investigating the incident, which came to light after an instructor on duty conducted a routine inspection and noticed signs of injury on the cadet’s body.