(from left) Tan Sri Dato?Seri Dr. Salleh Bin Mohd Nor, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Datuk Dr Omar Abdul Rahman and Professor Tan Sri Dato?Dzulkifli Abdul Razak were recently appointed as UCSI University council members.

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University has appointed three of Malaysia’s most eminent academics, namely, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Datuk Dr Omar Abdul Rahman, Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor and Professor Tan Sri Dr Dzulkifli Abdul Razak as new university council members. 

The trio are Fellows of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and they have been instrumental in shaping Malaysia’s progress in education, science and technology over the last two decades. 

Heralding the appointments, UCSI vice-chancellor and president Senior Professor Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff said that the move would have a profound impact on the University. 

“This is definitely something of a coup for UCSI,” said Professor Khalid. “The trio stand out as some of Malaysia’s leading minds and their wealth of experience is second to none. Each of them has made important decisions that result in far-reaching impact and their contributions to the nation cannot be understated. 

“UCSI will benefit immensely from their insights and their appointments is a definitive step in propelling the University to the higher echelons of higher education.” 

As university council members, they will now be an integral part of UCSI’s principal governing body. They will also exercise their individual and collective responsibilities to ensure that the University’s goals are met. 

Dr Omar is best remembered for being Malaysia’s first national science advisor from 1984 to 2001 during the Mahathir administration. He also served on the United Nation’s Council for Science and Technology for Development and other Unesco committees. He is also the ASM founding president, the past president of the Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies and the Third World Network of Scientific Organisations. 

Dr Omar began his professional career in 1960 in veterinary research. He joined Universiti Putra Malaysia in 1972 and held a number of key positions including founding dean of the faculty of veterinary medicine and animal sciences and deputy vice-chancellor (academic affairs). 

Well-known for his passion for the environment, Dr Salleh served as the first director-general of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia. He also served as the Malaysian Nature Society president from 1978 to 2014. His contributions have influenced national policies pertaining to the environment, pollution and wildlife conservation. 

A former ASM secretary-general, Dr Salleh is a former president of the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations. He stands out for being the organisation’s first president that hails from a developing nation. He is also the former pro-chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 

Professor Dzulkifli is the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). His policies and rebranding campaigns were instrumental in USM being chosen as Malaysia’s Apex university. 

He is also the 14th president of the International Association of Universities – a Unesco-affiliated organisation, a Fellow for both the World Academy of Art and Science and the Malaysian Institute of Management, as well as an honorary lifetime member of the Asian Academy of Management.