So far, 57,266 M’sians want Dr M as Education Minister

PETALING JAYA: Barely a day after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to back down as Education Minister, Malaysians are petitioning for his return to the portfolio.

The online petition, started by Ra­­veen Dev on Friday and address­ed to Pakatan Harapan, has since garnered 57,266 signatures.

“If you, like us, believe that Dr Mahathir should be the Education Minister and will bring much needed reforms to the education system in this country, please do take a moment to sign this petition and share it among your friends and family,” the petition read.

On Thursday, Dr Mahathir said he would take over the education portfolio because many people were uneducated, and that he needed to give his attention to it.

He also said Malaysia’s teaching me­­thods were “outdated” and he hoped that more Malaysians would be computer-savvy.

Dr Mahathir added that he would introduce online software to teach students in schools.

A day later, he relinquished the port­folio because Pakatan Hara­pan’s manifesto stated that the Prime Minister should not hold any other ministe­rial positions.

However, the 93-year-old said he would only take up the education portfolio if there was a demand by the people.

The Education Minister-designate is now political newcomer Dr Mas­zlee Malik, who joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) on March 12.

He was an International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer and terrorism researcher before joining Pribumi.

Lawyer and activist Siti Kasim is one of those who signed the petition. In a Facebook post yesterday, Siti Kasim questioned Dr Maszlee’s stance as a “progressive Muslim”.

“His stand is not acceptance but tolerance.

“Maybe that is enough for some people but when people talk about tolerating a necessary evil and they are referring to marginalised communities and non-Muslims, the line should be drawn there,” she wrote.

She said Dr Maszlee, who is also Simpang Renggam MP, is against minority rights though he acts as if he is accommodating and open.