RECENTLY, our professors were ruffled by comments made by a respected figure in the academic world, Tun Arshad Ayub. During a press interview, Arshad said that our professors, who now number about 2,500, are lacking in quality. Naturally, some professors did not take too kindly to the comments. A retired professor now living in New Zealand wrote a letter to the editor to provide a balanced response. He said it was not quite right to describe all professors in the country as lacking in quality. In fact, there are professors who are actively involved in advising the government on various policies for the country. Most of them are fellows of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).