00:00University lecturers should stick to their area of specialization and avoid giving views outside their expertise, says Higher Education Minister Zambri Abdelkader.
00:10He was responding to International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer Saleha Yaqob's claim that ancient Roman shipbuilding techniques may have been learned from Malay seafarers.
00:20Zambri said academia is governed by established procedures that preserve the integrity of knowledge and the credibility of higher education institutions, Burnama reported.
00:30He added that while lecturers are free to express views related to their fields, commenting on unrelated issues is not ideal.
00:37A video of Saleha's remarks made during a lecture has gone viral following the discovery of a 13th century shipwreck on Kuala Malaka.
00:45Zambri compared professors to specialist doctors who should only offer opinions within their expertise, warning that unrelated claims could raise academic doubts.
00:53Meanwhile, IIUM's Academic Staff Association urged the university to take firm action against academics whose conduct or statements breach ethical or professional standards, stressing the importance of integrity and accountability.
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