MARAWI CITY, 4 April 2008 — The newly appointed president of the Marawi-based Mindanao State University (MSU) System Macapado A. Muslim told Arab New recently that he aims to regain MSU’s academic excellence and strengthen its revenue-earning capacity.

“I did not buy this position with the money from my relatives,” Muslim said illustrating his pledge not to bow to special interests or engage in nepotism.

The second-largest university system in the Philippines, with an annual budget of P769 million for its main campus alone, has witnessed a series of crises caused by the various self-interested parties coupled with political and ideological interests in the area.

Muslim replaced a former police general, Ricardo de Leon, who was criticized for not having an academic background. Malacanang selected Muslim to the post after being recommended by a search committee chaired by former Higher Education Commissioner Christina Padolina.

Muslim was forthcoming in his description of the daunting task ahead; MSU has faced, among other problems, the kidnapping of students and faculty by armed groups.

“I may not able to reform the already complicated problem,” he said. “But my priority is to professionalize the system and save MSU.”

Muslim said he wants to regain the educational standard of the university and carefully select qualified faculty.

Some has welcomed the appointment of Muslim, who is an MSU alumnus. Members of the Moro community praised and welcomed the new president and decorated places in Mindanao with streamers in his honor.

Scholar Dr. Ali Panda said it was a positive sign that Muslim was selected on his qualifications and not by political recommendation, and that he believed that Muslim can rescue the system considering his academic, extension and research works achievements as well as his extensive experience in the university governance.

Muslim took his oath of office before President Gloria Arroyo on Jan. 4 in Malacaٌang. Many have expressed hope that the new appointee would cure the depressing performance of MSU graduates in various fields.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Gov. Saldy Ampatuan pledged to support the peace and development-building efforts of MSU because many of its students are from ARMM cities, such as Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Muslim is a professor and was the former chancellor of MSU General Santos City for 11 years. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Hawaii and graduated from the MSU in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in public administration.

Muslim’s key academic and professional interests include: public policy studies, insurgency and nonviolent politics, ethnicity and ethno-nationalism, conflict resolution and peacemaking, international politics, development administration, and organization and management studies. He writes and lectures frequently on topics related to Philippines-Muslim affairs.

Panda said Muslim would be able to directly solicit constructive ideas and can therefore enhance intimate relations and mutual understanding and finally provide consensus among his people.

Mindanao State University (MSU) has around 68,000 students and more than 3,000 faculty members. The late Sen. Ahmad Domocao Alonto, a founding member of the Makkah-based Rabita Al-Alam Al-Islami (Muslim World League) and the only Filipino recipient of the prestigious King Faisal Foundation Award for Service to Islam, authored the bill that paved the way for the establishment of MSU in 1961.

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