Mas Ermieyati wants clean candidate for new UKM vice-chancellor

Summary

• Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin says the new UKM vice-chancellor must not have any criminal records after the previous one stepped down in a cloud of controversy.

• The Bersatu Women’s chief calls for public universities to be freed from political influence and any appointments must be based on merit.

• Mas Ermieyati also asks if the government had interfered in the judicial appointments process after alarms were raised by the legal fraternity.

PARLIAMENT | Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) today said the replacement for the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) vice-chancellor must not have any criminal records.

This was after Mohd Ekhwan Toriman resigned as the UKM vice-chancellor on Sunday following controversies.

“His successor, who will be placed in that high and honourable place, should not be someone who has been involved in a crime or police case,” she told the Dewan Rakyat while speaking on the motion of thanks over the royal address.

Yesterday, Berita Harian reported the police have received two police reports from Ekhwan on alleged defamation and slander against him.

The same news report said certain quarters claimed that a university audit had implicated Ekhwan in alleged abuse of power, irregularities, and non-compliance with the procurement process.

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati, citing a Facebook post by Karangkraf Sdn Bhd group managing director Hussamuddin Yaacub, called for public universities to be free of political interference.

Hussamuddin had said that Malaysian academia requires a swift transformation towards meritocratic appointments.

‘Is govt interfering with judicial appointments?’

Mas Ermieyati further commented on the state of judicial independence in Malaysia, asking if there has been any political pressure on the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

The Bersatu Women’s chief referred to a statement by nine former Malaysian Bar presidents, who said the current government is falling short in upholding judicial independence.

“This is a very serious statement and needs to be given attention by the whole of Malaysia.

“This gives the impression that there has already been interference from Madani in the appointment of judges,” she said, adding that there should not be any delays in appointing judges.

In December, former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan warned that another judicial crisis might be brewing.

She said the government taking nearly 10 months to fill the Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM) post was a warning sign.

In November, Federal Court judge Hasnah Mohammed Hashim was sworn in as the CJM after Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah retired in February.

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