UKM VC issue: Minister says 'too sensitive' for Parliament

Summary

• Some matters may be “too sensitive” for Parliament, says Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir on the resignation of former UKM vice-chancellor Ekhwan Toriman.

• He tells the Jerlun MP in Parliament to meet him personally for an explanation of Ekhwan’s alleged misconduct.

PARLIAMENT | Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir said some matters are “too sensitive” for Parliament when asked about the resignation of Ekhwan Toriman as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia vice-chancellor.

“If I were to explain it, it’s a lot. You can meet me personally because there are some matters that may be much too sensitive,” he told Abdul Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Abdul Ghani asked about allegations of Ekhwan committing misconduct.

Zambry (above) emphasised that Ekhwan had resigned before any official accusations were levelled.

“I want to say here, it’s not what people said, that the investigation was done and finalised and then he voluntarily resigned - no,” he explained.

Defamation, slander

On Feb 4, Berita Harian reported that the police received two police reports from Ekhwan on alleged defamation and slander against him.

It was reported that certain quarters claimed a university audit implicated Ekhwan in alleged abuse of power, irregularities, and non-compliance with the procurement process.

A week later, Negeri Sembilan ruler Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir ordered the immediate revocation of the Darjah Setia Bakti Negeri Sembilan award, which carries the “Datuk” title, from Ekhwan.

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