The 'forced' resignation of Dr Edmund Terence Gomez is a "very unusual way" for Universiti Malaya to show its appreciation for the top scholar's services, said Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today.

The veteran politician was responding to UM corporate communications office head Che Ramlan A Rahman who said the university did not approve Gomez's application for secondment to a prestigious United Nations research post because his services were needed at the university.

Subsequently, Gomez (right) had decided to quit his university post today to take up the offer by Geneva-based Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) to lead a two-year global study on the causes of racial conflict.

According to The Star on Friday, Che Ramlan said while UM congratulated Gomez on his achievement, it had to consider the interest of its Faculty of Economics and Administration, where the scholar has been lecturing for 12 years.

"Forcing Gomez's resignation is a very unusual way of showing Universiti Malaya's appreciation of his services, just like a parent claiming to love his son by disowning him," decried Lim.

Che Ramlan said UM's management had discussed Gomez's application yesterday and decided not to release him for secondment to the post at UNRISD due to the "exigency of his services to the university."

"Che Ramlan should know that the claim that UM's appreciation of Gomez's services had led to its rejection of his application for a two-year secondment to take up the UN post cannot stand up to any public scrutiny," Lim noted.

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World renowned Gomez has authored and edited numerous acclaimed books, among them, Money Politics in Barisan Nasional, Political Business: Corporate involvement of Malaysian political parties, and Malaysia's Political Economy: Politics, Patronage and Profits.

Lim had described the resignation of Gomez as "not only a loss to the university but also to the nation".

A university's secondment is a leave of absence for an indefinite period.

"While on secondment, a lecturer does not lose any seniority in UM and, in spite of absence, this is counted as years of service to the university. The fact that secondment is counted as years of service to UM is important for the lecturer's application for promotion as well as for retirement, when gratuity is calculated," said Lim.

The opposition leader said that UM seldom denies lecturers secondment, especially if it helps bring honour to the institution.

Lim said UM's public admission of Gomez's services and contribution to the university has nevertheless opened up the possibility of a resolution to the controversy.

He called on the university to approve Gomez's leave application and offered to mediate between UM vice-chancellor Dr Hashim Yaacob and Gomez to reach an "amicable and equitable" solution to the controversy.

Gomez will begin his UN post in the middle of next month.