Read this in the Star today. I am embarassed as a female academic to see such uncool behaviour from the former Vice-Chancellor of UM. Perhaps we do have to look at ourselves. We need to show leadership qualities not get emotional like this. Women a good lesson on what not to do when your tenureship is not extended. Speech is silver silence is golden. The best thing to do is to shut your trap.
Saturday November 15, 2008
Apologise, former V-C tells deputy minister
By SIMRIT KAUR
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Universiti Malaya (UM) vice-chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim has demanded an explanation and public apology from a deputy minister for questioning her performance as head of the university.
Rafiah said that Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Idris Haron, when replying to a question in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday, had insinuated that she had not been reappointed as UM VC because of her track record.
“Idris should not have undermined me by implying that they needed someone with a track record and who was high-performing, implying that I was not,” said Rafiah, in reference to the appointment of her successor, Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon.
Idris had said that UM needed someone with a high level of performance who could elevate the university’s status, and that Prof Ghauth had vast experience in public universities and had built up the Multimedia University (MMU). Prof Ghauth was appointed to a three-year term to head UM on Nov 8.
When contacted, Idris, who is currently in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, said that he had not implied that Rafiah was not a good VC in his answer.
“I said that the VC search committee had chosen a candidate who was better able to fulfil the criteria set,” he said, adding that he would refer to the Parliament Hansard on Monday.
Rafiah said that her two-and-a-half year term was not sufficient to ensure the success of UM’s transformation plan.
“I have several more projects to be implemented and would have needed at least two more years to see them through.
“This lack of continuity in leadership can hamper UM’s development,” she told The Star.
Rafiah said that despite her short tenure, she had still managed to turn around the university because of the cooperation she had got from UM staff.
The university has managed to climb The Times Higher Education World University Ranking during Rafiah’s time, from 246 in 2007 to 230 this year and was the only public university to get a five-star rating in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara).
Rafiah, the first woman to head a public university, was appointed VC in May 2006 and her contract was extended for six months from May this year.
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