SARAWAK is headed for another clash with Putrajaya over the appointment of a new chairman of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) board of directors when the term of the current chairman only expires next year.

The chief minister’s office said Sarawak will seek clarification from Putrajaya over the break with precedent by not consulting the state on the appointment. 

The New Sarawak Tribune reported today that Kamal Salih, chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), has been appointed the fourth chairman after Sulong Matjeraie’s term was cut short on December 20, when his term expires on April 30 next year.

Sulong, a former Federal Court judge, assumed the post on May 1, 2018.

The effective date of Kamal’s three-year appointment is January 1.

“It is regrettable that the appointment of Kamal Salih has not been referred to the Sarawak government,” the office said today.

It clarified that the Unimas board chairman “has always been appointed after consultation with the state government”.

Sarawak is also upset that it was not notified officially of the appointment prior to the announcement.

The chief minister’s office said it has always been consulted since the appointment of the first three chairmen – Bujang Mohd Nor, Hatta Solhi and Sulong.

All are Sarawakians.

Kamal’s appointment would make him the first non-Sarawakian to hold the post.

The former Wangsa Maju MP is an economist and academic administrator who had served as deputy vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia. – January 3, 2020.