Opposition MP defends PM Ismail Sabri's education credentials after viral comment

PETALING JAYA: An Opposition MP defended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's education credentials, saying that the latter did not use any "connections" to read law at Universiti Malaya (UM).

PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said he received a viral message written by a social media user with the username Andrew Peris, claiming that the Prime Minister had studied law in UM through his father's connections as an Umno strongman in Pahang.

"Andrew Peris defamed Ismail Sabri when he stated in his writing that he got a scholarship to read law through his father, an Umno strongman in Pahang. This is false and malicious.

"Ismail Sabri was able to enrol in the Law Faculty at UM based on his merits because of his good STPM results, not because of having a 'cable' or cronyism," Hassan said in a Facebook post on Sunday (Jan 16).

In the viral message, Facebook user Andrew Peris had claimed that "His (Ismail Sabri Yaakob) LCE results were poor so he went to a vocational school in Form 4. He flunked his SPVM and went to a private school to resit his exams.”

Hassan said that he personally knew Ismail Sabri's father, whom he described as an ordinary man, who worked as a rubber tapper.

Hassan added that if he decided to ignore the claims about Ismail Sabri, then he would be a failure for allowing false facts that could tarnish the academic background of the Prime Minister.

He said despite being an Opposition MP, and sitting on opposing sides politically, they were not enemies but only political rivals.

In the comment section, many praised Hassan for his political maturity.

User Mohd Fazli said such a stance was a sign of political maturity.

"Defending the truth despite being political rivals. Salute YB," he said.

Another user Nur Lyza Mohd Eusoff said, "Salute Pak Hassan. It is rare to see a politician defending those from the opposing side.".