PUTRAJAYA:Following months of pressure from various quarters, Maszlee Malik has resigned from his position as education minister effective tomorrow (Jan 3).
The PPBM Simpang Renggam MP said his decision was made following advice from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a meeting earlier today.
“I would like to thank Mahathir for giving me the opportunity to spearhead the Education Ministry for close to 20 months. It is the best gift I could have asked for as an academician and an educator.
“On the advice of the prime minister, and in the spirit of loyalty to the party leadership and the government, with a heavy heart, I, Maszlee Malik, would like to resign as minister effective Jan 3, 2020,” he told a special press conference, here, yesterday.
In a statement released immediately after, Mahathir said he has received Maszlee’s resignation letter and has accepted the latter’s decision to step down.
“His successor will be determined and announced in due course,” he said.
Maszlee said since assuming his position, he has been the target of various groups and individuals over a number of policies and issues.
He said he had already foreseen controversies coming his way since day one, owing to the huge responsibility of helming a very important ministry.
Among other things, he was on the receiving end of brickbats over his handling of the Jawi issue, the issue of recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and the ministry’s implementation of the free breakfast in schools.
“Unfortunately, I was judged (by certain groups) not based on my achievements. I have made significant changes to the education system, but it did not make the headlines.
“Sensational topics seemed to be the ones hogging the news. I was seen as creating too many crisis for the top leadership. However, I believe I have laid the groundwork very well for the ministry.
“I feel that my decision (to step down) today is not the end, but a new beginning. I hope the coming days will be a new dawn for Malaysia. And I will be here to serve in whatever positions I have,” he said.
Maszlee only took three questions from the media during the press conference, before leaving in a Perodua MyVi, which he drove on his own.
His resignation will pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle to take place, something that Mahathir had said he would do in the near future following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) crushing defeat at the Tanjung Piai by-election in November.
It is believed that Maszlee would not be the only name to be chopped from the Cabinet, with several other ministers also consistently being criticised for their work.
Among those speculated to be appointed into the Cabinet is former Umno man Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who has since jumped ship to PPBM following the 14th General Election.
