Dr Mahathir forgoes education portfolio

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he let go of the education portfolio in the Cabinet of the new federal government as he had to abide by the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) election manifesto in the matter.

The PH manifesto stated that ‘ the prime minister will not simultaneously hold other ministerial posts, especially the post of minister of fi nance’.

“That’s the position of the manifesto and I can’t break it,” he said in a video clip posted on the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia

That’s the position of the manifesto and I can’t break it.

( Bersatu) Facebook.

Dr Mahathir said he could not pass the portfolio to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who has been named the deputy prime minister, as she already holds the portfolio of women and family development.

“There’s no restriction on the deputy ( based on the manifesto). Only the prime minister,” he said, adding that indeed there was a demand that he should take up the post of education minister.

Dr Mahathir noted that in the previous governments, the prime minister and deputy prime minister used to alternate between the defence and home affairs ministries.

“But now it’s different. Defence, as you know, is (held by) Mohamad Sabu, Home Ministry goes to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“They’re not the prime minister or deputy prime minister,” he said. — Bernama

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister