Plagiarism Scandal

UPM Duo in Plagiarism Scandal

The front page on theSun today (September 14, 2009): "UPM duo in plagiarism scandal".

Two Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) lecturers are facing career-damaging action for plagiarism.

Six years ago, the two academicians - a professor and one who recently received her PhD - produced a reference book titled "Writing an Effective Resume" meant for management students on writing impactful resumes that would attract potential employers.

However, about a year ago, suspicions arose within the academia the book may have plagiarised materials of several American university websites, including Harvard and Albion College.

Investigations conducted by the university discovered that a "substantial" amount of the 64-page book was lifted almost word-for-word, albeit given a local touch. The authors and publishers of the original material have not been notified.

It, among others, defines a resume and its purpose, making the resume appealing, networking, organising the employment portfolio and preparing curriculum vitae.

Higher Education Ministry director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi acknowledged receiving the complaint and investigations are ongoing. He said punitive action would be taken under the Universities and University Colleges Act and Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act (Act 605).

Investigations headed by UPM's Legal Department concluded that among the actions to be taken are that they repay royalties to university, as well as receive a "severe reprimand on their personal file".

There was some comments about plagiarism in theStar today(September 17, 2009).....

According to the Penang Deputy Chief Minister and former academic Prof Dr P. Ramasamy has described plagiarism as the most endemic academic fraud in the Malaysian higher education system. The recent case of two lecturers having lifted content from the websites of American universities for a book was just the "tip of the iceberg". P. Ramasamy said plagiarism is the biggest offence in Malaysian universities. But the Higher Education Ministry is silent on this problem.

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