MP: Kamal Salih episode a lesson in respecting local sentiments

KUCHING: The appointment and abrupt resignation of Tan Sri Dr Kamal Salih as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) board chairman should serve as a ‘ good lesson’ about the importance of respecting local sentiments, said Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

“The incident teaches the federal authority a good lesson not to abandon the conventional practice in the state,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday when prompted for comments about Kamal’s decision to quit the post just days after he was appointed.

Wan Junaidi said while the economist and former Wangsa

Maju MP was no doubt appointed based on his credentials and background, the appointment itself faced obvious problems.

“Firstly, the chairman of Unimas board of directors has always been a Sarawakian. Secondly, the appointing authority did not show any respect to the state when making the appointment.

“Lastly, the high-handed way the appointment was made by Putrajaya angered a lot of Sarawakians,” he said.

Wan Junaidi added that with the appointment attracting so much criticisms, it was right of Kamal to tender his resignation as it would have been difficult for him to work and also maintain a cordial relationship with the state administration under such circumstances.

Wan Junaidi, meanwhile, recalled how he and several other MPs were part of a small committee chaired by Kamal in the 90s, to conduct research on school-leavers and plan for their future.

“In less than a year, Tan Sri Kamal came up with two volumes, of about 340 pages each, of research papers to be presented to the government.

“It was adopted by the government and tabled during the budget presentation by the finance minister in 1998, after which the programme, known later as Community College, was approved by Parliament in 1999.”

The birth of Community College catered for students in the country who could not gain admission into institutions of higher learning, he added.