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An outspoken political scientist and critic of the Malaysian government for 25 years has been sacked after he  claimed public universities were racist, under strong government control, lacking in autonomy and intolerant of dissent.

Ramasamy Palanisamy - who studies national liberation movements, and has close ties to Aceh and Tamil Tiger rebels - said the National University of Malaysia has given him until August 27 to clear his desk. It has not given a reason for his dismissal.

Dr Ramasamy is rarely  quoted in the Malaysian media, but the independent Malaysiakini news website featured an interview last week in which he criticised university administrators.

'I have been victimised and discriminated against for speaking up against injustices,' said Dr Ramasamy, an ethnic minority Indian.

'Promotions and job security depend not on academic excellence, but how well staff cultivate ties with government officials. I refused to walk that path,' he added.

Dr Ramasamy has decided not to appeal against his sacking, and has demanded that the university reinstate him.

'I have also consulted my lawyers and they say the sacking is unwarranted,' he said.

Senior staff expressed shock at the unceremonious sacking.

'We sympathise with him, but can't protest publicly because we will be branded as traitors,' said one academic.

Malaysian academics retire at 55 and are then hired on renewable two-year contracts. Dr Ramasamy, 56, retired in May before being rehired in June.

The parliamentary opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang, said it had become  common practice to sideline, discriminate against and punish  outspoken academics.

'There is a deep culture of fear, subservience and mediocrity in our public universities,' Mr Lim said.

He said a core problem is that since the 1980s, university vice-chancellors and some academics have been political appointees.

'They are selected for their loyalty to the party and the government, and these individuals expect similar loyalty from students and lecturers,' said Mr Lim, who is calling for a  meeting of lawmakers  to discuss the sacking and what he sees as a crisis  in higher education.

Malaysia's 17 public universities are beset by poor academic standards and political infighting.

Last month, two academics  avoided punishment for speaking out after intervention by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.



Outspoken academic sacked after criticising universities