Latest news with #PoliticalCriticism
Washington Post
19 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Santa Ono rejected for University of Florida presidency amid conservative backlash
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Longtime academic Santa Ono was rejected Tuesday for the University of Florida presidency by the state university system board amid sharp criticism from political conservatives about his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other initiatives they view as unacceptable liberal ideology. The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's universities, voted 10-6 against Ono, who was most recently president of the University of Michigan. The University of Florida Board of Trustees had voted unanimously in May to approve Ono as the school's 14th president, and it is unprecedented for the governors to reverse such an action.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Accepting Tengku Zafrul into PKR opens door to uncertainty, says Rafizi
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the criticisms levelled by Umno leaders against Tengku Zafrul Aziz were valid and deserve the attention of the unity government's leaders. KUALA LUMPUR : Accepting Tengku Zafrul Aziz into PKR will open the door to uncertainty in the cooperation among the unity government's components, says former party deputy president Rafizi Ramli. He said nothing in the draft unity government agreement, drawn up before its formation, forbids its components' leaders from joining other parties. 'This will need to be discussed among unity government components because this is a grey area. '(However, accepting Tengku Zafrul) should be avoided because it opens the door to uncertainty. 'Where do you draw the line when Umno leaders criticise (the move)?' he told reporters in Ampang today. When asked if PKR should also be open to its leaders moving to other parties, should it accept Tengku Zafrul into its ranks, Rafizi said the party's top leaders should come forward to explain the party's stance. He said the criticisms levelled by Umno leaders against Tengku Zafrul were valid and deserve the attention of the unity government's leaders. Earlier, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said it is 'very inappropriate for any party in the unity government to arbitrarily accept members from other allied parties'. 'This is to prevent causing disharmony among the parties in the unity government. This could lead to continuous prejudice and suspicion among grassroots members about the level of loyalty, sincerity and honesty that we have,' he said. Umno's legal bureau has also been asked to look into the implications of Tengku Zafrul's exit from the party in terms of the party hopping law and on his status as senator. The party's information chief, Azalina Othman Said, said while Umno respects a person's right to make political choices, Cabinet appointments are based on the party represented instead of one's individual capacity. She said while the prime minister chairs the national unity council, Cabinet ministers are appointed as the party's representatives. On Friday, Tengku Zafrul said he had submitted his resignation as an Umno member as well as from all party posts. He said he had informed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and secretary-general Fuziah Salleh of his intention to join PKR.
