DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has urged the government to bring in prominent academics to head local universities and faculties.

He said that the "best and brightest" should take over as vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaya (UM), even if the candidate is a foreigner.

In a statement based on an email sent to cabinet ministers, he argued that a New Zealander is vice-chancellor of Oxford University while the Chancellor of University of Nottingham is a professor from China.

"But before foreigners are appointed to head Malaysian universities, aren't there competent and qualified non-Malay candidates to be appointed vice-chancellors. Do they have to continue going abroad if they are to be internationally distinguished academics?" he asked.

The email message attempted to persuade the ministers to discuss issues pertaining to UM's drastic drop in the Times Higher Education Ranking

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Lim also called for a Royal Commission on World-Class Universities in Malaysia and reiterated his stand for the abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act.