Pro-BN chancellors can go, says Maszlee

Diyana Ibrahim Diyana Ibrahim Updated 5 years ago · Published on 21 Jun 2018 5:35PM · 3 Comments

Education Minister Maszlee Malik says vice-chancellors who ridiculed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's age prior to GE14 should resign. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 21, 2018.

VICE-CHANCELLORS and deputy vice-chancellors of public universities who rooted for Barisan Nasional will be asked to resign their positions, said Maszlee Malik.

The education minister said this is in keeping with the Pakatan Harapan policy of removing political appointees and replacing them with qualified people.

“Those whose contracts have ended will not be  re-appointed. But those still are working for us will be given a choice because before the 14th general election they ridiculed the prime minister’s age and qualifications, but after 12pm on May 10, they changed their minds.

“We do not want people who are like this,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

He was commenting on whether the Education Ministry would follow the move to halt political appointments in semi-public services, such as statutory bodies and government-linked companies (GLCs).

Maszlee said a closed-door meeting with vice-chancellors has been held on the matter.

“I personally had a meeting with them, and informed them of the prime minister and cabinet’s wish.

“We expect voluntary resignations because we don’t want any more hypocrisy. Let the stand be clear.”

He also promised not to appoint vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors from his own party, Bersatu.

He said the requirements for appointments will be stricter now, to ensure that only those who are qualified are made vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors.

“What’s sure is that I won’t put my own party members in the posts. I promise there will be no party members appointed.

“It will make us different from the old government, and it will keep politics out of universities.

“But if the person is already a party member when made vice-chancellor, then we have no choice.” – June 21, 2018.

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Comments

  • Well done Minister. Please get rid of all the apple polishers and kangkungs from running the universities. Besides this, please make all your lecturers and administrative staff to go on contract. if they cannot deliver, you can terminate them easily. At present, most of them are permanent staff and many are very complacent and not up to the mark.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teh E · Reply

  • Its not whether pro-BN or anti-PH, its about Academic. A Chancellor and VCs should be education, knowledge, students - an pro-BN or pro-PH is not acceptable.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Agree. Get rid of the political appointees. They have no place in education. Start appointing dedicated and qualified academics.

    Posted 5 years ago by Anthony Long · Reply