Deputy Rural Development Minister R Sivarasa said the appointment of Education Minister Maszlee Malik as International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) president should be reviewed.

In expressing his shock with the appointment, Sivarasa said the matter should be reconsidered so that it is in line with the Pakatan Harapan's manifesto.

“As an example, the Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) tried to take the education portfolio but withdrew when it conflicted with the manifesto,” he told reporters after a Seri Setia by-election event at Taman Ladang Glemarie in Shah Alam last night.

The appointment of Maszlee as IIUM president to replace Rais Yatim raised the question as he is already a minister and the MP for Simpang Renggam.

The appointment he said was against Harapan's manifesto that there would be no political appointment for government-linked companies (GLCs).

Polling for the Seri Setia by-election has been fixed on Sept 8 following the death of its incumbent Shaharuddin Badaruddin of colon cancer on Aug 2.

- Bernama