THE removal of public university chairmen is in line with Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda, said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

He said he is following Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s instructions to revamp the education system.

“It’s about change, to have new faces, a new spirit, the spirit of reform. We are still at an early stage.

“We need those who can bring forward the agenda of institutional reforms,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

The Malaysian Insight earlier today reported that the chairmen of five public universities have gotten the axe.

Maszlee said those removed were political appointees from the previous Barisan Nasional government.

“The ones who have been replaced were political appointees.”

The Simpang Renggam MP said there will be more removals soon.

“Just wait and see. It is not just about removing them. It is about having a new leadership with fresh ideas.”

In letters sighted by The Malaysian Insight, Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Zaki Azmi, Universiti Tun Hussien Onn’s Shufri Mohd Zin, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s Kamaruddin Hussin, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Noorul Ainur and Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Anuar Ali were among those whose services were ended today.

There are rumours that another three public university chairmen will get the chop, followed by the reshuffling and termination of services of vice-chancellors.

The Malaysian Insight also reported today that three members of the Universiti Malaya board of directors have had their services terminated.

Maszlee last month said vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors of public universities who rooted for BN would be asked to resign.

He had said this was in keeping with the PH policy of removing political appointees and replacing them with qualified individuals.

He was commenting on whether the ministry would follow the move to halt political appointments in semi-public services, such as statutory bodies and government-linked companies. – July 31, 2018.