UNIVERSITI Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is considering two responses to the incident of a lecturer who was seen berating an improverished student for not having a laptop during class.

In a statement today, UiTM said its deputy vice chancellor (student affairs) Prof Mohd Sazili Shahibi has met with the parties involved in the incident, including the other students who were in class at the time.

UiTM said following the meetings yesterday, the university’s executive management body had the option of either terminating the lecturer’s contract, which was renewed on March 15, or not take any action against the academic as she had met with the student she scolded who had agreed to settle the matter amicably.

“UiTM’s decision rests upon the advice of the Higher Education Ministry,” the university stated.

After a video of the incident went viral, UiTM vice-chancellor Prof Roziah Mohd Janor said the institution was investigating into the case.

“It is understood that the incident happened last semester, but (the video of it) was only uploaded yesterday.

“We have traced the student and provided him with the necessary equipment (a laptop).”

In the video, the lecturer is seen haranguing the student for not having a laptop during an online class. She is heard telling the student to ask his sister to sell her gold bracelet to buy a laptop for him.

The professor in question is attached to the architecture, planning and surveying faculty of UiTM on the Seri Iskandar, Perak campus and is an experienced lecturer, she added.

Roziah urged students who faced financial problems to contact their faculties for assistance.

UiTM offers various funds for underprivileged students, she added.

“All UiTM lecturers want the best for their students; maybe the lecturer got carried away.” – March 31, 2022.