I am not a political appointee, says 26-year-old UM director
Newly appointed Universiti Malaya (UM) director Danesh Raj Nagarajan has hit back at criticism surrounding his appointment to the university's board of directors.
“The higher education minister (Noraini Ahmad) wanted someone young to be on the board.
“They needed someone to bridge the gap between the alumni and the students...
Newly appointed Universiti Malaya (UM) director Danesh Raj Nagarajan has hit back at criticism surrounding his appointment to the university's board of directors.
“The higher education minister (Noraini Ahmad) wanted someone young to be on the board.
“They needed someone to bridge the gap between the alumni and the students, to understand what is going on in the campus,” Danesh told Malaysiakini.
This appointment has nothing to do with my boss, he added, referring to his work as a media officer with Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said.
“I just want the people (who accused me of using connections) to know… Do they have any proof or surat sokongan (letter of support)? These are baseless statements made by some people.
“Secondly, if this is a political appointment, shouldn’t it go to a leader within the party? I am just a normal member in the cawangan (branch),” he said.
Danesh, who was appointed on Oct 4, cited his strong participation in the UM student body during his time as one of the reasons why he felt he was chosen to be on the board.
As he was a student at the university, Danesh was involved in a number of student societies.
He claimed that one of his biggest achievements was organising the country’s first university-based food pantry called Food Pantry Sekretariat Presiden Kolej Universiti Malaya (Send Free Food to Poor Students on Campus).
UM has a board of directors comprising 11 members including former Securities Commission chairperson Zarinah Anwar and deputy director-general of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Johan Mahmood Merican, who was previously TalentCorp chief executive officer.
The board of directors help with the administration of the country's oldest university.
Not linked to politics
According to Danesh, his boss, Azalina, was equally surprised by his appointment to their former university’s board of directors. He works as a media officer at her office, which primarily involves write-ups and photography work.
The former Perdana Fellow said Azalina was equally surprised by his appointment to their alma mater’s board of directors.
Yesterday, Azalina’s office also issued a statement denying that the Pengerang MP had pulled strings for Danesh.
Her office said Azalina didn’t know about the appointment until it happened.
“This office wishes to inform that not only Azalina was not involved, but the appointment also was not even in her knowledge at all. She only learned about it on Oct 5 when UM's congratulations poster was shared and gone viral via WhatsApp,” it said.
Danesh has also been accused of being a MIC Youth member but he clarified that he only engaged with Putera MIC because of his student activism work while studying at UM.
He said that he did not have any positions in MIC but did some paid work for the party.
Noraini defended his appointment to the board in a parliamentary reply on Oct 5, saying it was based on Danesh's involvement in the university's alumni.
“This is the best time for us to give opportunities to the youth and their roles in public higher institutions of learning,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.
However, critics such as the Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak) said this seems to be another political appointee after Umno’s Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin, who was deputy works minister, was appointed to the UM board in May 2020.
Noraini was reappointed to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cabinet with the same higher education portfolio after she resigned from Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.
Danesh said that he is not discouraged by the criticism as it was all based on “face value” assumptions on factors such as his age and his performing arts background.
He said as a board director, he will look into measures to boost the employability of UM graduates and play a check-and-balance role within the university’s management.
Universiti Malaya had announced Danesh’s appointment on Oct 4. His three-year term expires on Oct 3, 2024.
Danesh stands out as the youngest among the top public university’s board members. The 26-year-old has a performing arts degree from the university.
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