Thorns await first woman VC

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Apr 25, 06 2:35pm

Rafiah Salim made history when she was appointed as the first woman university vice-chancellor. Bouquets and accolades poured in.

But the grapevines have warned that her two-year tenure at Universiti Malaya (UM) could be anything but a bed of roses.

Those in the know speak of forces behind the scene that might throw hurdles along the path of the new VC, whom they regard as an ‘outsider’.

According to sources, the resistance would come from two factions, once foes but now friends.

The factions are led by former UM VC Prof Dr Hashim Yaakob and deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) for student affairs and alumni Prof Dr Razali Agus respectively.

Unfair decision

Hashim, who is now a professor with the dentist faculty, had allegedly remarked that appointing an ‘outsider’ would be a shame to the university.

According to a source, he said this during a dinner held at the Marriot Hotel in Putrajaya on April 1. The source, who requested anonymity, was also present at the dinner.

Hashim had also allegedly complained at the same dinner that it was unfair for the government to not renew his contract.

The source claimed that the former VC had said he was not given sufficient time to ‘defend himself’ as the decision only reached him three days before the official announcement.

He was also said to have remarked that Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang would back him if the matter was raised in the media.

In his speech at the dinner earlier, Hashim said that UM’s performance had improved during his tenure.

Factions join hands

Following Hashim's ‘termination’, Razali who is the longest-serving DVC was appointed as acting VC from April 1 to 30.

It is said that after knowing of the government’s intention to appoint an outsider, Hashim’s faction aligned with Razali, who was previously in the opposing camp.

However, their lobby to make Razali the next VC was unsuccessful.

Another UM source told malaysiakini that Razali had ‘wiped out’ dissenting student candidates during the last campus polls.

While his preferred candidates managed to seize victory, the irregularities in the polls had garnered much publicity.

This, according to the source, was the final nail in Razali’s chances to become VC.

Also dimming his prospects was UM’s drop in the annual Times Higher World University Rankings. From 89 in 2004, it had plummeted to 169.

"The new (higher education) minister Mustapa Mohamad who wished to project a new image could not appoint Razali because he did oppress the students," said the source.

‘Trade-off’

On the same note, he conceded the possibility that Rafiah’s two-year appointment (as opposed to the normal three-years for VCs) could be a ‘trade off’ with Hashim.

This arrangement would help boost a new image as desired by Mustafa and at the same time minimise the blow on the former university leadership as Rafiah will be seen as an ‘interim VC’ and the old guards could reclaim the fort once she steps down.

But this could also backfire should Rafiah manage to bring back UM’s former glory and win the hearts of her subordinates.

Keeping this possibility in mind, sources said Hashim and Razali might try to undermine her leadership and effectively set the stage for a power struggle.

Repeated attempts to contact Hashim and Razali proved futile.