The Travails At The International Islamic University Malaysia

The appointment of the Minister of Education Maszlee Malik to the presidency of the IIUM (International Islamic University Malaysia) has stirred up plenty controversy. 

Making matters worse was the demonstration by students in front of the MOE in Putrajaya until late last nite. They wanted Mazlee to resign as the president. Two students were arrested when they blocked the road with their sleeping tents and stuff.

Talk is Maszleee was appointed president upon Tun Dr Mahathir's request, and consent of the DYMM Sultan Pahang who is the "constitutional head" of the IIUM.

There is a bit more. Maszlee's task as president was specifically to correct some serious wrongs that have been going on in the UIA over the past years under the Kleptocrats. Apparently it involves plenty moolas - not the religious kind. The university's academic performance is also not satisfactory.  MOE insiders suggest that a thorough cleaning out of the UIA leadership must be done quickly.   Hence the appointment of the Minister as the president.

That is some background to the affair.  

I also found out that the Ministry of Education does not yet have a Press Secretary (SUA) and no effective means of disseminating timely information to the public.  Apparently the bureaucrats at the JPA are throwing up various obstacles and objections to the appointment of various officers. 

As Tun Dr Mahathir has said there are still pro Kleptocracy staffers in government who are tripping up or sabotaging the new Pakatan government. These crooks must be weeded out and disciplined, transferred to Cox Bazaar or fired. 

The Ministry still does not have a strong media team. This is perhaps the most "sensitive" and publicly scrutinised Ministry and yet there is no proper media team in place. You dont communicate effectively, I think they are going to suffer even more bricks thrown at them.

Maszlee's appointment as president does raise the question of accountability and conflict of interest. The president reports to the Minister of Education - both are the same person. So how is the issue of conflict of interest handled? How is performance evaluated and how are Budgetary allocations fairly allocated when the Minister is also the president of the IIUM? Thinking aloud.