Professor who said Malays could fly sacked by Malaysian university

Solehah Yaacob went viral with her pseudo-history claims. She is fighting against her dismissal

Malaysian 

Ushar Daniele

Published: 2:44pm, 24 Aug 2026Updated: 2:13pm, 25 Aug 2026

A Islamic university has formally distanced itself from an academic whose viral claims about ancient Malay civilisation – including that Malays could fly and taught the Chinese “flying kung fu” – have drawn ridicule from historians.

In a statement on Sunday, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said Solehah Yaacob, a former linguistics professor, had been terminated from academic service on April 27 and was no longer entitled to claim any affiliation with the institution.

The university’s Office for Communication, Advocacy and Promotion said Solehah was now barred from using any official title, position or association with IIUM.

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Malaysian academic Dr Solehah Yaacob, who drew public scrutiny over claims that ancient Malays could fly and had taught the Chinese flying kung ...Read more

Professor who claimed ancient Malays could fly loses university post

asiaone.com

Malaysian academic Dr Solehah Yaacob, who drew public scrutiny over claims that ancient Malays could fly and had taught the Chinese flying kung fu, is no longer associated with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).Dr Solehah is challenging her termination and plans to take IIUM to the Industrial Court, accusing the university of acting unprofessionally in its decision, Free Malaysia...

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