MORE than 82,000 people have signed a petition supporting former lecturer Maszlee Malik as education minister since its launch yesterday.

Started by Nurul Fitrah Merican on change.org, the petition has gained more signatures than an earlier petition backing Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to take back the education portfolio.

“He has vast experience in academia and leadership in civil society groups (Orkids, Teach for the Needs, etc), steered by passion in nation-building initiatives.

“Let us pool our support for Dr Maszlee to lead our Education Ministry.

“With reforms in education driving his main agenda, this man is setting the change in education we all have been waiting for,” said Nurul Fitrah.

Dr Mahathir named himself as education minister last week, but relinquished the portfolio after it was pointed out to him that the prime minister could not hold other portfolios, according to Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.

The petition lobbying for Dr Mahathir to take back the portfolio, initiated two days ago, has more than 73,000 signatories so far.

Maszlee, who defeated Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng to win Simpang Renggam in Johor, was nominated as education minister together with 12 other cabinet ministers on Friday.

A petition supporter, Nur Zulkhiefley, said both Maszlee and Dr Mahathir were excellent candidates to revamp Malaysia’s education system.

“Their high aspirations in education will hopefully bring great changes to our country’s education system. Tun M (Mahathir) can still contribute his brilliant ideas as the PM,” he wrote.

Maszlee, a former assistant professor at International Islamic University Malaysia, has a PhD in Good Governance from the University of Durham, United Kingdom.

His background in Islamic governance has however made some activists, such as lawyer Siti Kasim, uneasy, while his alleged Salafist leanings have also attracted criticism.

His supporters cited his active role in the academia and civil society groups, including those aimed at helping children with autism, as proof that Maszlee was well suited to be the education minister.

“Based on his portfolio, track record, credibility and rapport, I trust he will contribute more towards the country’s education system,” said another petition supporter, Khairul Muhammad. – May 20, 2018.