Unable To Accept Criticism, Malaysian Education Minister Resigns

Malaysian Education Minister Maszlee Malik (Twitter @BernamaTV)

JAKARTA - Malaysian Education Minister Maszlee Malik has decided to resign from the Pakatan Harapan Cabinet led by Prime Minister (PM) Mahathir Mohammad. He took the decision after receiving a lot of criticism related to his policy since serving 20 months as Minister of Education.

Reported from Channel News Asia, Maszlee announced his resignation as Minister of Education in a press conference, on Friday, December 3. He considers that the programs he has implemented have failed in setting the standard of education in Malaysia, and have caused problems and controversial issues.

"As I explained at the beginning, I was seen to cause many crises to the leadership, especially involving the issue of Jawi education, school internet, and the issue of free breakfast," said the 45 -year -old man.

His decision to resign, he considered appropriate to start the foundation of a new educational culture in Malaysia. “My decision (to resign) will not end, but the beginning of a new dawn. The reform of a country will not succeed if we do not make the welfare of the people a priority, "said Maszlee again.

During his tenure, Maszlee was dubbed the 'shoe minister', after he announced a policy for every student to wear 'black shoes' instead of white. The reason is that the shoes worn by students do not look dirty quickly.

In addition Maszlee also proposes swimming classes for students at the hotel and encourages a cashless ecosystem at the school. Not to mention the issue of Java which is one Maszlee policy to require special schools in China and India (the school vernakuler) include lessons in Jawi or Arabic Malay lessons in their curriculum.

Thank you to the people of Simpang Renggam who welcomed my return today. Especially to those who gave words of encouragement & waited for me tirelessly. We will continue to work harder for the prosperity of this area. We are on our way! #Simpangrenggamdihatiku pic.twitter.com /fp2PFJ9CVV

- Maszlee Malik (@maszlee) January 4, 2020

The policy is opposed by school teachers vernakuler, but supported the Muslims and Malays. The criticism came in the form of ministry billboards, leading to a petition asking Maszlee Malik to resign.

However, he thinks his policy has been good enough. Maszlee Malik exemplified if his programs were deemed able to reduce the workload of teachers, including promoting the Malaysian Reading movement and reviewing the Education Law to make secondary education compulsory.

"Unfortunately these things are not headlines. But only sensational headlines become colored," said Malik.

Found Maszlee Malik’s decision to resign as Minister of Education. PM Mahathir thanked Maszlee for his service, as a minister in his cabinet and will soon seek a successor.

"I have accepted his resignation with effect from Friday (January 3). I will determine his successor and will announce it immediately," Dr Mahathir said in a written statement.