Did Maszlee Malik actually appoint UTM officials linked to Ikram?

Question

Accepted Answer

Maszlee Malik's Appointments of UTM Officials Linked to Ikram Denied by University

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has explicitly denied allegations that its campus is used for spreading radical Islamic propaganda or that its top officials were appointed due to their links with the Muslim group Ikram. The university has labelled an article in Asia Sentinel as false and defamatory, refuting claims that its current vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellors were appointed by former education minister Maszlee Malik based on their Ikram membership.

UTM has provided a detailed timeline regarding the appointments of its leadership. The current vice-chancellor was initially appointed in 2013 by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Subsequent contract extensions were made by Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh in 2016 and by Maszlee Malik in 2018. Furthermore, UTM clarified that all appointments and reappointments of its deputy vice-chancellors occurred during Idris Jusoh's tenure as the minister of higher education. The university also asserted that its academic staff are qualified experts from diverse backgrounds, contradicting the article's portrayal.

The Asia Sentinel article, however, cited an unnamed former vice-chancellor who alleged that Maszlee Malik had appointed at least 26 university officials with salafist leanings from Ikram. Maszlee Malik himself has not denied his association with Ikram but has dismissed any suggestion that he was implementing the group's agenda. He has maintained his commitment to diversity in higher education, despite the accusations of proselytisation.

For context, the salafi movement is generally understood as a revivalist movement within Sunni Islam that originated in the late 19th century in Egypt. It emerged as a response to Western European imperialism. The Asia Sentinel article further suggested that more such appointments might have occurred had Maszlee Malik remained in his ministerial position.

This situation mirrors similar denials from other institutions; Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) had previously refuted claims that three of its senior leaders were appointed by Maszlee Malik due to their Ikram affiliations. UKM clarified that two of these leaders were appointed under the previous administration, with subsequent extensions by ministers including Maszlee.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Did Maszlee Malik actually appoint UTM officials linked to Ikram?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends