Former Universiti Malaya (UM) vice chancellor Ghauth Jasmon said the university’s alleged move to discourage students from lodging police reports on sexual assault is “strange”.

A Japanese student, Yo M, recently alleged he was advised by the university to retract his police report on his sexual assault by another foreign student while on exchange at UM.

A Taiwanese student, also an alleged sexual assault victim when on exchange at UM, was also urged by the university not to report his case to the police at all, Yo claimed.

“I don’t think the victim is required to withdraw. (The move seems) strange to me,” Ghauth told Malaysiakini when contacted...