The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has announced that it is reviewing statements made by one of its lecturers who claimed that ancient Roman shipbuilding techniques may have been learned from Malay seafarers.
In an official statement, the university said it views the matter seriously and regrets the lecturer’s actions, stressing that internal measures will be taken in accordance with established procedures following the review.
IIUM acknowledged that the viral video of the lecturer’s remarks had caused public confusion and once again tarnished the university’s academic reputation, despite previous reminders urging staff to exercise caution and responsibility in public discourse.
“The comments were made in the academic’s personal capacity and do not represent IIUM’s official position,” the statement read, as reported by Berita Harian.
The university reaffirmed its commitment to academic freedom, while emphasizing that scholars must base their public statements on verified, evidence-based research.
“The balance between academic freedom and scholarly responsibility is crucial to maintaining the credibility of academia,” IIUM said, reminding lecturers of their duty to educate the public responsibly.
Although IIUM did not name the lecturer, the viral video features Arabic language lecturer Solehah Yaacob, who suggested that Romans learned shipbuilding from Malays. Her comments came after the discovery of a 13th-century shipwreck near Pulau Melaka, believed to be among the oldest ever found in Malaysian waters, offering valuable insights into the region’s maritime history.
This is not the first time Solehah has made headlines for controversial remarks — she previously claimed that ancient Malays could fly and taught the Chinese “flying kung fu,” and that Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Siti Khadijah, was from the Malay realm (Alam Melayu).
