EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Malik remained coy about his International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) presidency even after his aide said Maszlee would resign the post.

At the IIUM convocation today, the Bersatu man said the event was not a suitable time and place to discuss the matter. 

“I don’t think think it is suitable to discuss that. (Whether you got it from) Rumours or the aide, you don’t want to be party crashers. The university is having a historic moment now. 

“We do not want the to disrespect the host. It is like party crashers asking you on your wedding day when you are getting divorced.  That is not the way we Malaysians deal with people,” Maszlee told reporters in a press conference.

The Simpang Rengam MP said he would reveal more on the subject another day.

“I don’t think this is ethical. I plead to you guys, we will discuss this another day. This is very inappropriate.”

A source told The Malaysian Insight that Maszlee has been looking at a few candidates to replace him as the IIUM president.

The former IIUM lecturer had come under pressure over his appointment as the seventh president of the university.

Although IIUM staff, management committee and students had welcomed the minister,  his acceptance of the post was heavily criticised as it ran contrary to the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, which promised to restore academic freedom at institutions of higher education.

Some Pakatan Harapan leaders had similarly advised the former IIUM political science lecturer to relinquish the post. – November 10, 2018.