DR Maszlee Malik’s appointment as International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) president may have triggered fierce debate about Pakatan Harapan’s promise of academic freedom but the university staff hope he could right the wrongs of the past.

The IIUM current management, rightly or wrongly, felt the university has lost its Islamic identity when former culture, arts and tourism minister Dr Rais Yatim took over as president in 2014.

Many, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Rais’ decision to remove the inscribed stone (batu bersurat) monument installed at the entrance since the 1980s led to the dilution of the university’s Islamic characteristics.

The old monument was a replica of the stone that told of Islam’s arrival in the region. It had the first five lines from Surah Al-Iqra, which were God’s revelation to Prophet Muhammad calling on all men to seek knowledge.

Lost identity

The old inscribed stone monument was IIUM’s symbol as a garden of knowledge (ilmu) and virtue (budi), until it was “destroyed”.

“The old stone monument was replaced with a new monument of a keris, often central to Malay culture and power,” said an official of the university.

There were objections at the beginning when the old monument was replaced but it was still bearable.

Another source said the president of IIUM has no absolute power over the university, which had its own constitution unlike other institutions that followed provisions of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA).

“The president has no power but Rais made the position too powerful. At one point, the government had to intervene in IIUM affairs.”

Rais could not be reached for comment.

IIUM alumni president Khalek Awang said Maszlee did not want to be drawn into the past four years but was looking to move forward.

Khalek said Maszlee was the right pick as president, adding that the former academic was capable of putting IIUM back on the right track to fulfil its original goals.

“We were so happy to hear about his appointment. He was previously a lecturer here. He knows the direction of IIUM well. We are not sure others would know better.

“But the problem is others are envious of him, accusing the government of not following its election manifesto. At IIUM, we don’t care, as long as IIUM gets back its original soul.”

Khalek said IIUM folk are also hoping that with Maszlee onboard, the university could revert back to its Islamic roots.

As a start, he hoped the International Institute of Islamic Civilisation and Malay World would go back to its original name and function as the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation. – September 12, 2018.