World · Malaysia Bureau
Appeals court rules against Unisel in unfair dismissal case
Malaysia's Court of Appeal has found that Universiti Selangor breached the employment contract of former lecturer Siti Asmahan Ali through an unjust disciplinary process. The ruling overturns the university's termination of the academic staff member.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Court of Appeal delivered its decision after finding that the disciplinary proceedings against Siti Asmahan Ali did not meet the required standards of fairness and due process. The court determined that Universiti Selangor violated the terms of her employment contract in the manner through which it terminated her position.
The case centred on allegations that the university failed to afford the former lecturer adequate opportunity to defend herself during the disciplinary process. Key procedural safeguards were not observed, according to the appellate judgment, compromising the integrity of the proceedings.
The ruling represents a significant development in employment law matters within Malaysia's higher education sector. It reinforces judicial scrutiny of dismissal procedures at educational institutions and underscores the requirement for universities to adhere to contractual obligations when disciplining staff members.
The decision may have implications for how Universiti Selangor and other institutions conduct internal disciplinary hearings involving academic personnel. Further remedies or compensation arrangements are likely to follow from the court's finding in Siti Asmahan Ali's favour.