KUCHING, Jan 3: The Sarawak government says it was not consulted and notified officially of the appointment of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) chairman Tan Sri Dr Kamal Mat Salih as the fourth chairman of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), in a statement today, said it will seek further clarification from the federal government on the appointment.
“It is regrettable that the appointment of Tan Sri Kamal Salih has not been referred to the Sarawak government.”
CMO clarified that Unimas Board chairman has always been appointed after consultation with the state government.
“The state government was neither notified officially of his (Kamal’s) appointment prior to the annoucement.
“This has been the process that was adhered to since the appointment of the first chairman Tan Sri Bujang Nor, second chairman Datu Dr Hatta Solhi and third chairman Tan Sri Sulong Matjeraie whose term was set to expire on April 30, 2021.”
Sulong, a former Federal Court judge, had his three-year term cut short on Dec 20 last year. He was appointed for a three-year term on May 1, 2018.
Kamal is set to serve from Jan 1, 2020 until Dec 31, 2022. He will be the first non-Sarawakian to hold the position.
He was a professor, dean and deputy vice-chancellor at the Universiti Sains Malaysia between 1973 and 1985.
The former Wangsa Maju MP (from 1996 to 1999) has also held various positions in government agencies.— DayakDaily
