Malaysian authorities did not enquire about alleged incidents of rape and corruption at the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) in Ukraine although routine queries were made on other issues, according to correspondence made available to malaysiakini.

The allegations were cited by Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek on June 30 as some of the factors behind the decision to de-recognise CSMU with effect from January next year.

While he said appeals will not be entertained purportedly due to CSMU's failure to respond to official queries, copies of letters reveal otherwise.

The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), in a letter to CSMU in August 2004, expressed exceptional concern over the high concentration of Malaysian students in a single university and enquired about infrastructure and student accommodation.

In a reply late October 2004, CSMU rector Prof AA Babanin assured the MMC that students were in good hands.

"Since 2004, CSMU has hired a special security agency known as 'Krechet' to take care of student welfare within the hostel/student township," he said in the letter.

There was no mention of rape or corruption in any of the MMC's letters between August 2004 and last June.

The MMC could not be reached for immediate comment.

Details sought

Roughly a week after the announcement on de-recognition, the MMC e-mailed CSMU asking for details on the students, among them an ethnic- and course-based breakdown.

It wanted to know the current total and the expected number of Malaysian students entering the foundation programme at CSMU in September as well as the foreign student population.

CSMU international affairs vice-chancellor Prof Biloglazov VA replied saying there were 590 Malaysian Indian students, 220 Malaysian Chinese, 231 Malays and 20 others from ethnic minority groups.

He said the university also did not hesitate to expel students as part of its commitment to sustaining a high medical training standard.

Despite warnings during the academic year, he said, students who were unable to complete the term curriculum and failed basic subjects had to be expelled.

According to CSMU's records, 28 Malaysian students were expelled last January followed by another 30 reportedly in June.

'Wrong information'

Correspondence between CSMU and the Malaysian ambassador in Ukraine about two weeks ago also sought to explain the expulsion of a group of Malaysian students.

In the e-mail sent in late June, CSMU international medical faculty dean Prof Sakhaltuyev AD claimed that some expelled students were misrepresenting certain administrative procedures.

"Unfortunately, some students having problems with studies (in CSMU) have presented you the wrong information concerning (the expulsion)," he said.

He said Ukraine's ministries of health and education have stipulated that expulsion is to be meted out if a student either fails three examination subjects or skips exams without a valid reason.

"Expelling students without a reason does not correspond to (the) interests of any university, including CSMU," he said, adding that underperforming students are expelled annually.

Sakhaltuyev said students were briefed on the rules and regulations at the start of each academic year followed by the teaching staff at meetings. The rules were also posted on notice boards.

"Unfortunately, (expelled) students are also authors of letters with (various) complaints (of) excessively strict rules at CSMU," he added.

CSMU was the only Ukraine university granted recognition in 2001 by the MMC and the Public Service Department.

The abrupt de-recognition of CSMU on June 16 prompted immediate accusations of racial bias against the Malaysian Indian community.

Following the storm of controversy and scant details on the actual reason behind the de-recognition, deputy minister S Sothinathan was suspended when he questioned the decision in Parliament.

Following intense debate, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang asked for the de-recognition to be suspended and a grace period given for CSMU to meet the MMC's standards.

Soon after the cabinet's backing of the decision and assurance that the present batch of 247 foundation students will not be affected, the issue was considered closed.