Universiti Malaya deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Razali Agus has been appointed acting vice-chancellor following the departure of Prof Dr Hashim Yaacob, whose contract ended today.

Mohd Razali's appointment was announced by the Higher Education Ministry, according to a report in the Star today.

Yesterday, malaysiakini , quoting the New Straits Times , reported that Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahbudin, currently the chief executive officer of the National Accreditation Board (LAN), will be appointed as the new vice-chancellor.

However, Sharifah ( left ), when contacted by the Star , refused to comment on the matter.

The daily also said there were three women in the race for the top post in the nation's premier university.

They are Sharifah, higher education department deputy director-general (management sector) Prof Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin and International Centre for Leadership in Finance executive-director Rafiah Salim.