Row over Singapore varsity's denial of tenure to professor

One of Singapore's largest public universities has rejected an appeal by an Indian-origin associate professor of journalism for tenure, triggering a row.

Nanyang Technological University decided to turn down the appeal of Cherian George, associate professor in its Wee Kim Wee School of Communication, despite opposition, media reported.

Four of the university's most senior faculty members, including two ex-deans -- Ang Peng Hua and Eddie Kuo -- have written to the university, saying that denial of tenure to George would cause "serious damage to our academic reputation and professional integrity" and NTU's ability to attract top communication scholars, according to the Straits Times.

A former journalist, George has written several books and articles on censorship in Singapore.

According to Theodore Glasser, George's dissertation advisor in Stanford University in the US, there is no reason not to grant tenure to George and that the decision was taken for George "offending the political powers in Singapore".

George has been denied tenure twice within three years.