Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has provided a clarification on his reported remarks that the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal would be included in the history syllabus, said Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Bersatu president said he had contacted fellow party man Maszlee over the matter, which received a lot of attention yesterday.

“The remarks drew a lot of reactions. As his party colleague and the party president, I contacted him.

“He said if we study the video recording in the Dewan Rakyat, we can see that he made the remarks when replying to a question from (Pontian MP) Ahmad Maslan.

“It was reported as if he had made a statement on the matter. He has corrected that impression. It is good that he did,” Muhyiddin, who is also home minister, told the press after attending a monthly meeting with police at Bukit Aman today.

It was reported that Maszlee said the 1MDB scandal would be made part of the history syllabus.

“I will make sure that 1MDB and how some leaders robbed the nation are included in history textbooks, so that future generations will not make the same mistake,” he was quoted as saying.

He said mistakes done in the past must be made lessons, therefore, the “crimes” committed by politicians would be included in the syllabus.

Maszlee had taken a supplementary question by Barisan Nasional lawmaker Ahmad, who asked whether Malaysian history is taught in private schools, citing the country’s 60 independent Chinese schools.

Following criticism hurled at the education minister over his reported remarks, Maszlee’s press secretary, Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari, said his boss had been misquoted.

He said Maszlee was inaccurately reported as saying the 1MDB case would be included in the history syllabus, adding that any such decision depends on the Education Ministry’s curriculum study committee.

Shahrul said Maszlee only mentioned that the subject would be included in the “history of Malaysia”.

Muhyiddin, who once held the education portfolio, said changes to any syllabus must go through the curriculum study committee.

“The issue has been clarified, and we accept the clarification given.

“I must also be careful. The media, too, should not report incorrectly.” – December 4, 2018.