KUALA LUMPUR: Perak PKR chairman Datuk Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty has been appointed to head Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin's (UniSZA) board of directors.
"Congratulations to Dato' Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty on your appointment as the chairman of UniSZA's board of directors effective Oct 1 to Sept 30, 2021," read a congratulatory message posted on the university's official Facebook page.
This appointment comes to light after the much criticised move of Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik being made president of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia in a statement by its deputy president Haissazc Shuqkin Hashim has demanded for an explanation from Maszlee on Muhammad's new role.
He claimed that the appointment went against the principles of autonomy for universities that Maszlee had been fighting for all this while.
Based on Muhammad's role as Perak PKR chairman as well as a candidate in Bagan Serai in the last general election, Haissazc said the former was not qualified to head UniSZA's board of directors.
Pointing out Maszlee's bid to ensure that the top management of universities are free from politics, Haissazc asked what is the main criteria in Muhammad being appointed as UniSZA's chairman.
"Did his appointment receive the support and views from not only the top management, but also academic and non-academic staff members as well as UniSZA's student representative council, in line with the minister's efforts to ensure there will no longer be any political appointees in the top management of universities," Haissazc asked.
Maszlee's appointment as IIUM president previously courted controversy as many took to criticising Pakatan Harapan's (PH) management of the government which they deemed as going against the essence of their pre 14th General Election manifesto.