The country’s oldest varsity takes on the future

DATUK Abdul Rahim Hashim cuts a lean figure in a crisp white shirt and a striped varsity tie. He has a no-nonsense look about him - until he breaks into that megawatt smile. The Johorean turns 65 in October, but looks at least a decade younger. Last month marked his 100 days in the hotseat.

He was named vice-chancellor of the country’s oldest university on Nov 1 last year, on a tenure that ends on Oct 31, 2020. Chosen for his expertise, knowledge, experience, achievements, and academic work, the former Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) vice-chancellor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Birmingham. He attended the Harvard Advance Management Programme in 1997, and has spent over three decades with Petronas before stepping down as corporate vice president in 2008.