VC appointment delay causes concern to MU staff
Chong Yen LongPublished: Apr 17, 2001 5:31 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The academic staff of University of Malaya have expressed concern over the failure of the Education Minister to appoint a new vice-chancellor following Tan Sri Abdullah Sanusi's end of office yesterday.
MU Academic Staff Association president Rosli H. Mahat told malaysiakini today that any further delay in the appoiuntment of a new VC would only cause rumours to continue on campus and strengthen fears that an appointee from outside academia would finally come in.
"We (the academic staff) would welcome someone with outstanding and excellent academic credentials to become the new VC to provide the leadership required. We hope the appointment would not become a political issue or serve certain parties' personal interests," Rosli said.
MU, the oldest university in Malaysia, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year to mark its move from Singapore.
At present, the university's deputy VC (academic affairs), Professor Firdaus Abdullah, is acting as VC, a situation which is not healthy and "does not instill confidence among academic staff," Rosli said.
He added that normally, two to three weeks before the tenure of a VC ended, a new candidate or VC-elect would have been announced by the Education Minister, and the endorsement by the University Council would be a mere formality.
Abdullah Sanusi, whose second term ended yesterday, had served six years as MU's vice-chancellor.
"We hope Education Minister Musa Mohamad would act immediately to make known the candidate for the new VC, preferably from within MU or someone from outside with outstanding academic credentials with good leadership qualities," Rosli said.
MU Academic Staff Association president Rosli H. Mahat told malaysiakini today that any further delay in the appoiuntment of a new VC would only cause rumours to continue on campus and strengthen fears that an appointee from outside academia would finally come in.
"We (the academic staff) would welcome someone with outstanding and excellent academic credentials to become the new VC to provide the leadership required. We hope the appointment would not become a political issue or serve certain parties' personal interests," Rosli said.
MU, the oldest university in Malaysia, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year to mark its move from Singapore.
At present, the university's deputy VC (academic affairs), Professor Firdaus Abdullah, is acting as VC, a situation which is not healthy and "does not instill confidence among academic staff," Rosli said.
He added that normally, two to three weeks before the tenure of a VC ended, a new candidate or VC-elect would have been announced by the Education Minister, and the endorsement by the University Council would be a mere formality.
Abdullah Sanusi, whose second term ended yesterday, had served six years as MU's vice-chancellor.
"We hope Education Minister Musa Mohamad would act immediately to make known the candidate for the new VC, preferably from within MU or someone from outside with outstanding academic credentials with good leadership qualities," Rosli said.
View Comments0