Maszlee's appointment made by sultan, says Wan Saiful

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 5 Sep 2018 6:02PM · 4 Comments

Wan Saiful Wan Jan today defended Maszlee Malik's appointment as IIUM president. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 5, 2018.

MASZLEE Malik’s appointment as International Islamic University (IIUM) president was made by the sultan of Pahang, Wan Saiful Wan Jan said today in defending the move, The Star Online reported.

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) chairman said the appointment was made by the sultan as the constitutional head of IIUM.

“This shows the sultan’s wisdom in making his choice, picking someone who knows the university inside out, over and above everything else,” the report quoted him as saying today.

The education minister’s appointment to the post had drawn flak from his own partymen, as well as those from opposition benches.

Maszlee, who was an academic before he joined Bersatu and contested in the 14th general election, was a former student and later lecturer at IIUM.

He is reportedly the third education minister to assume the post at the university since it was founded more than 30 years ago.

Before him, Rais Yatim, Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Razak held the post when Barisan Nasional was in government. The third prime minister, the late Hussein Onn, was the founding president.

Maszlee Malik is a former student and later lecturer at IIUM. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 5, 2018.

BN leaders had slammed Maszlee’s appointment.

Former higher education minister Khaled Nordin questioned why the new minister was “showing his favour to one university”.

“And, has he got so much free time to take care of the university?” the Umno vice-president tweeted yesterday.

Some of Maszlee’s Pakatan Harapan colleagues had also expressed concern over his appointment, with DAP’s Kg Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei saying the minister must relinquish his post as the new president of IIUM as it was a “clear conflict of interest”.

Lim said his appointment also ran counter to statements Maszlee had made in June, when he pledged to accord greater autonomy to local public and private universities to “cultivate academic freedom in their territory”. – September 5, 2018.

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Comments

  • Then inform Sultan that you cannot accept it because of the promises made, just like Wan Azizah when offered to be the PM by YDPA

    Posted 7 years ago by SY Loh · Reply

  • Wrong is wrong... irrespective who made that decision or decree. Just reverse it if you are serious about your role and responsibilities as a minister to the nation.
    Dont hide behind Sultan made the decision!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply

  • TUN M ALSO DIDN'T TAKE UP EDUCATION MINISTER POST.FIND SOME ONE ELSE CAPABLE TO FILL THIS POSTLAH.WHY ONE PERSON HOLDING 2 JOB.GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE CAPABLE. DAULAT TUANKU.

    Posted 7 years ago by CHEE Meng Ng · Reply

  • I wonder how the Sultan of Pahang knows him? Does he really know him inside out as suggested by Wan Saiful? Isn't it the case that the President is chosen by IIUM, and IIUM and the Minister have to brief the Sultan and then the Sultan will decide? As far as I remember, Wan Saiful was picked by Maszlee Malik to work for him. Wan Saiful are you trying to hoodwink all of us?

    Posted 7 years ago by T E · Reply