In a statement today, the ministry said it takes a serious view of any matters of misconduct and breach of procedure involving staff at institutes of higher learning.

“Universiti Malaya also does not treat such allegations lightly. The ministry has been updated by the university since it first received the complaint on the matter.

“The UM integrity unit is actively carrying out a probe into the allegations,” the ministry added.

It said the university had also complied with the procedures and rules on how to deal with such matters and has taken the necessary steps to protect the rights of all parties involved.

According to the ministry, the professor concerned also filed a police report over the allegations made against him and the case is currently being investigated.

Yesterday, a student group criticised the higher education ministry over its silence on allegations involving a professor who allegedly shared nude pictures of himself with students.

UM Feminism Club (UMFC) president Chin Jes Weng held a press conference to voice out its concern and also hit out at certain UM student groups, which she claimed had mostly remained silent when the alleged victims needed support.

“This is contrary to their promises of combating sexual harassment during the campus elections,” she said.

Chin and UM gender studies masters graduate spokesman S Indramalar presented a memorandum to UM’s integrity unit head Nur Syazwani Rosli.

Their demands include an immediate suspension of the professor pending an investigation, a thorough examination of the allegations and reforms to UM’s sexual harassment policies.

The memorandum was supported by 27 representatives from NGOs like the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

Meanwhile, UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the university takes sexual harassment seriously and that swift action will be taken against the offender regardless of position or status.