The Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak) has delivered a scathing criticism of Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad today after the group found that more political appointments were made to public universities.
It said the minister did not address the numerous immediate challenges facing higher education upon her reappointment to the cabinet but instead allowed more political interference in the board of directors of various public universities.
The group previously issued a statement condemning the practice of political appointments in public higher education institutes.
It had voiced out against the practice of such political appointments, but it said the minister has done nothing to reverse the course.
“Far from performing for the public universities and the rakyat, Noraini appears to be showboating her ‘abilities’ to please her political master and cluster.
“This is quite evident with the appointment of a 26-year-old former political officer of a senior Umno politician to the board of directors of Malaysia’s premier public university, Universiti Malaya (UM),” Gerak said in the statement today.
Other factors
The group said that while age should not be a criterion, other factors such as knowledge, experience, and the ability to contribute should be taken into account for such appointments.
“Looking through his (former political officer's) publicly available profile, we find nothing there aside from him being a youth leader in the MIC with a Facebook page and an Instagram account.
“This mockery of the role of the board of directors must stop. The board members are at the forefront of helping the university authorities to grow, to enhance their reputation, to establish links with the wider society, not links with political parties,” it added.
Parliamentary reply
The media had reported that Danesh Raj Nagarajan, 26, was appointed to UM’s board of directors recently.
Noraini defended his appointment in a parliamentary reply yesterday, saying it was based on his involvement in the alumni.
“This is the best time for us to give opportunities to the youth and roles in public higher institutions of learning,” Noraini told the Dewan Rakyat.
However, Gerak said this seems to be another political appointee after Umno’s Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin was previously appointed to the UM board in May 2020.
Noraini was reappointed to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob’s cabinet with the same higher education portfolio after she resigned under Muhyiddin Yassin’s government. - Mkini
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