Maszlee Tipped For Comeback Via Education Council

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Maszlee Malik in a light moment with Anwar Ibrahim after the PKR central leadership meeting on Saturday. (Maszlee Malik pic)PETALING JAYA: Former education minister Maszlee Malik could be making a comeback through the defunct National Education Advisory Council, which he set up in 2018, and is due to be revived by the new government.
Speculation about his posting arose after he wrote on Facebook that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had told him “your sabbatical will soon be over” after the PKR central leadership meeting on Saturday.
A month ago, education minister Fadhlina Sidek had announced that the NEAC will be reactivated.
A senior MP from Pakatan Harapan said Maszlee would be the best candidate for a position on the NEAC, having been an academic before becoming the education minister when PH formed the government in 2018.

“We will be happy as he is the right choice and has much passion for education. He was the one who was responsible for setting up the NEAC in 2018,” said the MP, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not privy to information about the position.
The council was established under Maszlee’s stint for a two-year term to give ideas and views to the ministry for setting the direction of the national education system. The NEAC was not revived under the Perikatan Nasional government that took over after the PH government was ousted in 2020.
A former member of NEAC, Noor Azimah Rahim of the Parent Action Group for Education, said Mazslee is the right person to lead the body.
“He has the objectivity that is required to make the desired changes that the education system needs especially in addressing the green wave stemming from national schools.
“The NEAC I was in had about 100 meetings. We made recommendations in specific areas in English language, Islamic studies, public-private partnership, teacher professionalism and special education,” she told FMT.
Maszlee, formerly with Bersatu, joined PKR in November and is a member of the party’s central leadership committee.
He had been viewed as making a return as education minister but failed to secure re-election to the Simpang Renggam parliamentary seat at the general election.
FMT has contacted Maszlee for comment. - FMT

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