THREE Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) associations and unions support the removal of Syed Razlan Jamalullail as the university’s board chairman, saying he had unjustly ordered two staff to go on leave.

UPM’s Union of General Staff, Association of Academic Officials and Association of University Administrators in a joint statement said Syed Razlan’s actions had unsettled the working environment at the institution.

“We feel his actions to order the registrar and legal adviser to go on leave with immediate effect is against principle of independence and freedom.

“It has brought disharmony to the working environment among university staff and has tarnished the administration’s reputation,” they said in a statement issued by the UPM corporate communications unit.

The statement did not elaborate on why Syed Razlan took action against the two employees.

The three groups said they supported Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s move to shorten Syed Razlan’s tenure and to appoint former University Malaya vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon as his replacement.

“We believe the minister’s decision was based on several factors and made for the better.

“We thank Syed Razlan for his contributions and as an alumnus believe he will continue to support UPM’s development in the future.”

Yesterday, the UPM Alumni Association (UPMAA) yesterday said Syed Razlan’s early termination was aimed at protecting wrongdoers within the institution.

It said Syed Razlan had been asked by the ministry to investigate three senior UPM officers, while a UPM subsidiary had also asked for an independent forensic audit of the company.

The UPMAA was responding to the ministry’s justification for removing Syed Razlan, which was purportedly based on professional considerations related to helping UPM break into the top 100 world university rankings.

Syed Razlan was appointed as UPM board chairman last October for a three-year period. He was issued a termination letter dated July 17.

Ghauth will replace him from August 19. – August 6, 2019.