SOCIAL media users today slammed Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik over his appointment as president of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

They said it was against Maszlee’s view to liberate universities and give them autonomy.

The appointment, they said, was also against Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, which promised the restoration of authority and independence to public universities and institutions of higher learning.

“Sorry, Dr Maszlee, this is in stark contrast with your so-called autonomous universities. How is IIUM expected to be autonomous when a minister is the president? Autonomous from what?” questioned Facebook user Fuad Syazwan Ramli.

Another user, Mohd Farhan, said that the university had presumably appointed Maszlee to ease its funding.  

“Thought political people would never have a place in autonomous universities. Mungkin IIUM sendiri yang nak lantik dia supaya senang nak dapat fund kot (Maybe IIUM had appointed him so it can get funds easily),” he said.  

On Twitter, Zulfahmi Saifuddin questioned if the move would have a positive outcome.  

“It definitely is not in line with his idea of liberating the universities from political parties/members,” he said.  

Yesterday, IIUM’s academic staff association congratulated Maszlee on his appointment on its official Facebook page.

Prior to joining politics, Maszlee was part of the Islamic knowledge faculty at IIUM.

The post had received 59 comments and 330 shares since it was put up.  

Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin had asked on his Twitter account why the minister was only showing his favour to a single university.

Kg Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said Maszlee should relinquish his post as it was a “clear conflict of interest”. – September 5, 2018.