The Malaysian Public University Staff Union (Gakum) has objected to plans to open up three top administrative positions - namely registrar, treasurer and librarian head - to civil servants who have never served in universities.

NONE At a press conference at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, Gakum president Omar Osman ( left ) said the move would affect promotion opportunities in universities.

"If they open up the posts to civil servants beyond the university, what will happen to the current staff?" asked Omar.

He argued that the ‘outsiders' will not understand the campus organisational structure and will take time to integrate with the academic community.

"The government should instead send potential staff to campuses for training," he said.

The chairperson of the 160,000-strong union was first informed about the proposal three months ago, and it was later confirmed with the higher education ministry director-general.

The government, according to Omar, will amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1974 soon in order to allow non-campus staff to fill these posts in the near future.

"We hope the government will stop pursuing this proposal, otherwise we would send a memorandum to the prime minister soon," he said.