What controversial claims did Solehah Yaacob make?

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Solehah Yaacob Made Claims Regarding Ancient Roman Shipbuilding and Kedah's Iron Ore Deposits

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has confirmed the termination of academic Solehah Yaacob's service, following public scrutiny over her assertions. These assertions include the proposition that ancient Romans acquired shipbuilding knowledge from Malays and that meteor activity might be the source of Kedah's iron ore deposits. IIUM stated that Solehah's academic service concluded on April 27, and she no longer holds any professorial or official representative capacity with the university.
Shipbuilding Claims Involving Ancient Romans

Solehah Yaacob, who was previously an academic in Arabic language and linguistics at IIUM, gained significant public attention for her theory that ancient Roman civilisation might have learned shipbuilding techniques from Malay seafarers. This particular claim led to advice from the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, urging university academics to refrain from making statements outside their established fields of expertise.
Theories on Kedah's Iron Ore Deposits

More recently, Solehah Yaacob presented a new theory that sought to explain the substantial iron ore reserves found in Kedah. Her hypothesis suggested a connection between these geological formations and meteor activity that occurred in ancient times. This latest proposition also generated considerable debate and discussion surrounding its validity.
University's Response and Institutional Integrity

In response to the controversies, IIUM clarified Solehah Yaacob's status to prevent any misunderstanding regarding her affiliation and to safeguard the university's academic representation and institutional integrity. The university had previously emphasised that her personal views did not reflect its official stance on academic matters. Solehah has been explicitly barred from using any official title, position, or affiliation with IIUM in any form of public dissemination, including promotional materials and media reports.

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What controversial claims did Solehah Yaacob make?

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