UM gets first woman V-C

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Rafiah Salim has made history by becoming Malaysia’s first woman vice-chancellor following her appointment to the post at Universiti Malaya from May 1 on a two-year contract. She will replace Prof Datuk Dr Hashim Yaacob, whose term expired last month. 

Rafiah: ‘I am deeply honouredand privileged’

“I am deeply honoured and privileged. I am also grateful to the Government for recognising that there are capable women in the country,” Rafiah said from Mecca, where she is performing the umrah. 

Rafiah, who thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed for giving her the opportunity, said she received news of her appointment at 4am Mecca time (9am local time) yesterday from an officer in the Higher Education Ministry. 

Mustapa, in a statement, said a five-member selection committee had identified 11 candidates, of whom three were short-listed and interviewed. 

“The committee unanimously agreed that Rafiah was the most capable candidate to return UM to its position as the best university in the country,” he said. 

Employees Provident Fund chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali, who is also chairman of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s board of directors, chaired the selection committee.  

The other members were former Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Tan Sri Syed Jalaluddin Syed Salim, former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Abu Hassan Othman, AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, and Universiti Malaya lecturer Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim. 

Rafiah is currently executive director of the International Centre for Leadership in Finance and had served as lecturer, deputy dean and UM Law Faculty Dean.  

She has also served as an assistant secretary-general for human resource management in the United Nations in New York and assistant governor of Bank Negara.  

Prof Khoo said Rafiah was the best candidate because of her international experience.  

“We need someone like her if we want to make UM a world class university,” he said. 

The Star reported that three women were among the candidates being considered for the post – Rafiah, National Accreditation Board chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Shahabudin and Higher Education Department deputy director-general (management sector) Prof Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin. 

UM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Razali Agus was appointed acting vice-chancellor for a month till April 30 following the end of Prof Hashim's tenure. 

Rafiah was born in Kelantan on May 13, 1947, and holds a Master’s and bachelor’s degree in law from Queen’s University of Belfast, Ireland. 

UM Law Faculty Dean Prof Khaw Lake Tee said she was pleased with Rafiah’s appointment.  

“I’m sure she has been appointed based on her capabilities, not her gender,” she added.  

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