PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - More scandals are being exposed at the Indian Studies Department of Universiti Malaya which was tangled in a leadership crisis recently.

Investigations have found misconduct in the marking of PhD thesis papers and the higher number of students being awarded first class honours degrees at the department.

UM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon said the issue is "something that could not be accepted".

"This has happened for a long time and it seems that the faculty is not capable of correcting it," he wrote in a report to the Higher Education Minister.

"After assessing the situation of the department, I have made a conclusion that this department, with its current leadership, is not capable of correcting this unacceptable situation."

The Star's Malay news portal mStar learnt that in the report, Dr Ghauth had attached the statistics of bachelor's degree honoured by the department that has showed a 50% increase.

In 2006/07 session, the number of bachelor degree graduates with first class honours was more than 64%.

Dr Ghauth also said an investigation by the Literature and Social Science Faculty dean found the examiners of the PhD thesis papers were from two universities in India.

He said one of the examiners, who was appointed to supervise this, was forced to complete his report in three days.

He said they have suggested that the thesis papers be re-checked.

--The Star/ANN