KUALA LUMPUR: The chairmen of public universities who were recently removed from office were "political appointees", says Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik (pic).

Asked on the axing of five university heads, he simply said "the ones who are being replaced are political appointees".

It was reported in the media that the five are Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Tun Zaki Azmi, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn's Tan Sri Sufri Mohd Zin, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin's Datuk Dr Kamaruddin Hussin, Universiti Sains Malaysia's Tan Sri Noorul Ainur Mohd Noor and Universiti Putra Malaysia's Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.

It was reported that more university heads would get their marching orders, to which Dr Maszlee said "you will have to wait and see".

"It's not about removing them, but it's about having a new leadership with fresh ideas," he said.

He said it was the same for GLCs, and high-level officers who were not steering their institutions in line with Government aspirations would affect any process of reform.

"It's about change, let new faces and fresh ideas in.

"We are still in the early stages and need people who can drive the reform agenda for institutions," said Dr Maszlee.