Maszlee sheds tears speaking about education for students with special needs

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik shed tears while speaking at the Special Education International Conference (SEIC) here.

Maszlee, who was present to officially close the conference on Friday (Sept 27), expressed concern over whether his aspiration to empower education for students with special needs could be realised.

The minister was seen wiping away tears several times, especially when he spoke about the success of the Sabahan athlete and SM Beluran student Eddy Bernard who won a gold medal for the 100m (cerebral palsy), in the Para Asean Games.

"Cerebral palsy did not stop Eddy from training and competing to become a world-class athlete. One of my dreams is to see that all children with special needs will never feel they are unwanted in this world," said Maszlee.

He called on his colleagues and friends in the Education Ministry to "not fail our children".

Speaking to the media after officially closing the conference, Maszlee said the five-year mandate given to the government is too short to ensure the success of all policies concerning special education.

He said it would be harder if the implementer does not share the same aspiration as the ministry, its minister and the government.

"The ending of all policies is the success in terms of implementation.

"If the dream stops with me, the ministry and the government without the same aspiration at the implementers' level then we will see failure on the part of the implementation,” he said.

"My greatest worry is not with me, but with the officers in the ministry, whether they can share my passion," he added. - Bernama