DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang in Parliament today demanded Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin answers charges levelled against his ministry by former Universiti Malaya vice chancellor (VC) Rafiah Salim.

Lim said Khaled should clarify claims by Rafiah that her contract non-renewal was coloured by gender bias.

"Khaled should answer the serious charges by Rafiah concerning the "kurang ajar (uncouth) " manner of her termination and gender discrimination against women university academic staff.

"Even if her appointment as VC was not renewed, why was she treated so shabbily as to be shunted around from pillar to post without knowing her fate to the last minute," Lim told a press conference.

The country’s first woman head of a public university, Rafiah’ only learnt her fate 48 hours before her contract expired.

Her first two year contract was extended by another six months in May.

She broke her silence when deputy higher education minister Idris Haron explained her removal in Parliament.

Idris related that UM required a high level performer who’d elevate its status and said new appointee Ghauth Jasmon (right) fit the bill with his vast experience.

The decision to discontinue Rafiah’s contract sparked off a debate in the House, with female MPs expressing worry over gender inequality.

According to Lim, besides Rafiah, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia VC Dr Sharifah Hapsah (right) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris VC Dr Aminah Ayob are on two-year contracts while their male peers are given three years.

"Rafiah’s allegation of gender discrimination against women university academicians, going by the shorter tenures offered to them compared to their male colleagues, cannot be taken lightly," stressed Lim.

Lim added that should Khaled fail to give "satisfactory response and assurance" immediately to stop such practices, DAP MP s will be moving for a RM10 pay cut for the minister.

Toll down the rates

In a separate development, Puchong DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo said toll concessionaires such as the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Shah Alam Highway (Kesas) and the Baru Pantai Highway (NPE) should reduce their rates.

This is because all three concessionaires are benefitting already from higher traffic in the Puchong area explained Gobind.

When replying to Gobind on the profits of the toll concessionaires, Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed disclosed that the projected income for the three companies would be staggeringly higher than their development costs.

For LDP, the cost of development was RM 1.69 billion and the projected income from 2008 to 2030 would amount up to RM 13 billion.

For Kesas which cost RM 1.4 billion to build, the company will likely receive from now to 2023 - a startling RM7 billion.

Finally NPE, costing RM 1.2 billion, will yield an approximate RM5 billion between 2008 till 2030.

"It is very clear that huge amounts of monies are to be collected from the rakyat of Puchong in the years to come.

"In line with the reduction of fuel prices, there should be also reduction in toll collection," said Gobind.

He pointed to North-South Expressway’s (Plus) decision to reduce toll rates.

Two days ago the company announced a discounted toll rate between midnight and 7am for their concessions - Plus highway and the North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite).