A FORMER senior lecturer at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) has been recommended for the post of the university’s president to replace Education Minister Maszlee Malik, whose appointment was slammed over conflict of interest.

Mohd Daud Bakar, who is also an expert in Islamic banking and finance, is rumoured to be Maszlee’s replacement after the minister tendered his resignation in November, said two sources with knowledge of the appointment.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Daud’s name has been submitted to the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also the constitutional head of IIUM with powers to appoint.

“We are still waiting for the confirmation of the appointment,” the source told The Malaysian Insight.

The Malaysian Insight is waiting for Maszlee’s response on the appointment.

In early November, Maszlee said he would relinquish the post after his appointment was slammed by critics as going against Pakatan Harapan’s pledge to free institutions of higher learning from political influence.

Announcing his resignation, Maszlee said his replacement would be an individual renown in the international arena, did not hold any political post and experienced managing universities.

Daud was an IIUM rector until 2005, when he set up an Islamic financial consultancy firm, Amanie Advisors. The company now operates in six cities around the world.

He is also a member of the shariah board of several international financial institutions, such as Morgan Stanley in Dubai, National Bank of Oman, Bank of London and Middle East in London, Islamic Bank of Asia in Singapore and Dow Jones Islamic Market Index in New York.

In Malaysia, he chairs the Syariah Advisory Council of Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission and Labuan financial and business centre.

In 2014, Daud was awarded the title of Tokoh Maulidur Rasul at a national level and a year before, Amanie Advisors received the Islamic Economy Award from the United Arab Emirates government.

A shariah graduate from the University of Kuwait, he received his doctorate from the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom.

His book Shariah Minds in Islamic Finance: An Inside Story of A Shariah Scholar was named best Islamic finance book of 2016. – January 4, 2019.