PUTRAJAYA: Former Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, who was appointed as Higher Education director-general (KPPT) from June 1, is the first woman appointed to the post.
She replaces Datuk Prof Dr Morshidi Sirat who has retired.
Met after the handing-over of duty here today, Asma who is the fifth KPPT, said she was quite shocked at the appointment as she had only been USIM vice-chancellor for the past 18 months.
Nevertheless, she said she regarded the appointment as a trust and a recognition which she valued very highly.
"I truly understand the heavy responsibility of the job. It is not an easy job but a demanding one.
"It does require all the skills and experience that I had before at the university, now to be put at the national level and with the challenge of taking higher education forward," she added. -- BERNAMA