PUBLIC universities will get tough on those involved in academic writing misconduct, especially plagiarism and “free riders”, says Malaysia’s Public Universities Vice-Chancellor/Rector Committee chairperson Prof Datuk Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar.

Stern action would be taken against anyone caught violating academic rules and ethics, she said, referring to Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s remarks that it was better for academicians to not meet university KPIs than to ride on a student’s work without any form of contribution.