Dr M: I will decide on the next Education Minister

PUTRAJAYA: The appointment of the new Education Minister will ultimately be decided by the Prime Minister, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It is my prerogative as (Prime Minister).

"I will decide on who will replace Dr Maszlee Malik," he said after chairing the special cabinet committee on anti-corruption on Tuesday (Jan 7).

Dr Mahathir said there were reasons that made him felt it was necessary for Maszlee to step down.

"I'm not saying that he did everything wrong. There were some things he did that were right.

"But because of some other reasons, I felt it was necessary for him to resign, and he agreed," he said.

Dr Mahathir, however, did not elaborate on what those "other reasons" were.

Maszlee announced his resignation on Jan 2.