MALAYSIANS angry and disappointed over the appointment of Dr Maszlee Malik as the education minister are venting on social media.

They accuse the former International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer of being an Islamist and alleged supporter of controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

Activist lawyer Siti Kasim took to Facebook to criticise the decision, urging people to sign an online petition to bring back Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as education minister.

“I hope those criticise Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) in having the MOE are happy now, replaced by a closeted Islamist.Good,” she said on a Facebook post last night, disputing Maszlee’s “progressive Muslim” tag.

The education portfolio, which the prime minister relinquished yesterday, was given to Bersatu’s Maszlee, who is Simpang Renggam MP.

Those who opposed Maszlee’s appointment also shared an article published in April 2016 in which the senior fellow at IDEAS was quoted as saying that Zakir was a soft-spoken preacher and did not condemn other religions.

“I urge non-Muslims to hear him out to get a clearer picture on Islam,” he was quoted as saying by FreeMalaysiaToday.

Despite criticism over the appointment, many Malaysians, including co-founder and executive director of Lawyers for Liberty Eric Paulsen, have come to Maszlee’s defence, saying he is the right man to hold the post.

“People should watch @maszlee @LiewChinTong on @501Awani discussing education. Sobering, insightful, well aware of the need for reform and how much Malaysiahas been left behind,” he tweeted.

“Maszlee also spoke about the need to reform religious discourse, as a tool of identity politics that has been used to separate us & them, to make us closer instead.

“He also spoke about ‘political Islam’ about the need to change mindset from radicalism, constant labelling, us & them mentality. Better to focus on progressive Islam – integrity, honesty, human rights, justice, being neighbourly etc,” Paulsen tweeted, saying the Bersatu man was responding to questions by the host on the show.

Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming also shared his insight, saying Maszlee is an intelligent, thoughtful and capable person.

“I have known Dr Maszlee for a few years. He has consistently written and spoke up on the importance of public policy in Islam. He is open to engagement & dialogue. I’m sure he will bring this openness to his portfolio.

“He is the only professor in Malaysia I know of who can engage in matters of philosophy, political science and Islam. His ideas are wide ranging and progressive. I’ve had many conversations with him on public policy matters including on waste management,” he tweeted.

Born in Johor Baru, Maszlee has contributed to a number of think-tanks and is often invited as a panellist or moderator to discuss issues relating to Islamic politics and the politics of the Middle East.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Al al-Bayt University, Jordan, and a master’s degree from Universiti Malaya, both in the field of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and usul al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence).

He obtained his PhD from the University of Durham, United Kingdom, in 2011.

An online petition supporting Maszlee as education minister was also set up, garnering 7,955 signatures as at 11.40am with the goal of 10,000 signatures. – May 19, 2018.