Southville City: Former Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) deputy vice-chancellor (Academic), Tan Sri Dr. Kamal Salih, passed away today at his home in Southville City.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, his passing was confirmed by his close friend, Distinguished Prof. Datuk Dr. Rajah Rasiah, who is the executive director of the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) at Universiti Malaya. Rajah, a fellow committee member of the International Connectivity Conference and Expo, which Kamal chaired, received the news around 10:30 am. He expressed his shock and described Kamal as a notable academician and economist.
Sadasivan Sivaji, director of GSATT Sdn Bhd and another close friend, also expressed his surprise over the news. He recalled meeting Kamal just a week prior and remarked on his continued passion for his work and ideas, emphasizing Kamal’s lasting contributions to academia and economics.
It has been reported that funeral prayers were conducted at Masjid Raudhatul Jannah after Asar, with the burial taking place at the mosque’s cemetery in Kampung Sungai Buah, Dengkil, Sepang.
The late Kamal, aged 78, significantly impacted academia and policy-making in Malaysia. As a professor and dean of the School of Social Sciences at USM, he was instrumental in establishing the university’s Centre for Policy Research. His roles included being a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Panel and the Malaysian Business Council, as well as serving as rapporteur-general of the National Economic Consultative Council.
Among his notable achievements was founding Malaysia’s first private medical college, the International Medical University (IMU), in 1992, where he served as executive chairman until 2004. His efforts were pivotal in advancing private medical education in the country.
In addition to his academic and policy contributions, Kamal also engaged in politics, serving as the Wangsa Maju member of parliament and founding Yayasan Wangsa Maju, now known as Yayasan Mahkota. He also advised the National Implementation Task Force during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration.