THE Higher Education Ministry should investigate Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) thoroughly as there are many other allegations on social media against the university, said Ong Kian Ming.

The Bangi lawmaker from DAP said the ministry should look into accusations of racism towards African students at the university.

“Is the ministry aware of the many accusations on social media including African students not being able to be university ambassadors at marketing fairs for higher education,” he asked when debating the royal address in Parliament today.

He said a website had listed all the allegations against LUCT.

“I cannot vouch if the claims are genuine or not but I would suggest the ministry investigate them thoroughly so such claims do not taint the country’s image or higher education institutions in the country,” he said.

The ministry had told Ong in a written reply last week that it has issued a show-cause letter to LUCT over a controversial billboard showing its founder as the “King of Africa.”

Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad said the government wants an explanation for the billboard even though the university has apologised.

“The ministry seriously regards the racial allegations against LUCT which went viral on social media. The ministry has issued a show-cause letter to demand further explanation from LUCT,” she said.

The billboard depicts Lim surrounded by students in Sierra Leone.

Ong, who is former international trade and industry deputy minister, also said there was another allegation LUCT was hiring lecturers without qualifications.

“There are also serious accusations with audio clips, where non-academic staff members were forced to apply to become lecturers even if they were not qualified,” Ong said.

He proposed that the ministry as well as the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) investigate this matter intensely as it will soil Malaysia‘s name internationally.

“I urge the ministry including MQA to do a thorough and comprehensive investigation to uphold the country’s good name,” Ong said.

Meanwhile, Ong also asked Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin if he is going to investigate the education qualification of all his appointed chief executives, GLC and GLIC chairmen who are made up of Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers. 

He said former head of Permodalan Nasional Bhd Jalil Rasheed’s resignation was unfair as the dispute concerning his degree was mere technicality.

Jalil’s qualifications came up in Parliament yesterday in response to an MP’s query.

A written reply from the prime minister said Jail was not a London School of Economics graduate, citing confirmation from the LSE.

Jalil, however, said this was a well-known fact and all his previous employers did background checks prior to hiring him. – July 20, 2020.