{
  "id": 2990551,
  "title": "Malaysian Professor Solehah Yaacob Sacked After Viral Claims Ancient Malays Could Fly, Taught Chinese ‘Flying Kung Fu’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/malaysian-professor-solehah-yaacob-sacked-after-viral-claims-ancient",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T09:02:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/malaysian-professor-solehah-yaacob-sacked-after-viral-claims-ancient-malays-could-fly-taught-chinese-flying-kung-fu"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysian professor Solehah Yaacob has been sacked from her position at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) following highly controversial claims about Malay history and civilization. The university confirmed her termination on April 27, stating that she is no longer affiliated with the institution and prohibited from using IIUM titles or positions in any publicity.\n\nSolehah's claims, which went viral, include the assertion that ancient Malays could fly and had taught Chinese people \"flying kung fu.\" Additionally, she proposed that ancient Romans learned shipbuilding techniques from the Malay world. Following the university's statement, Dr. Yaacob plans to challenge her dismissal through legal proceedings, accusing the university of acting unprofessionally. She claims her termination was arbitrary, coming shortly after she received a research award from the Ministry of Higher Education.",
  "summary": "A Malaysian professor has found herself at the centre of a viral controversy over her claims about Malay history and civilisation, after her university confirmed that she had been terminated from academic service. The professor has disputed the circumstances of her dismissal and says she plans to challenge the decision through legal proceedings. University confirms termination The International…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Professor who said Malays could fly sacked by Malaysian university",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/professor-who-said-malays-could-fly-sacked-by-malaysian-university",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:44:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}