I will decide on new Education Minister – PM

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that he will decide on the appointment of the new Education Minister because it is his prerogative.

“It will be decided by me because it is my prerogative,” he said when asked on the status of the post of education minister following Dr Maszlee Malik’s resignation on January 2. Dr Mahathir told a news conference this after chairing a meeting of the Special Cabinet

Committee on Anti-Corruption (JKKMAR) here.

Asked whether Maszlee’s resignation was due to his attempts to reopen the King Salman Centre as reported, Dr Mahathir said it had nothing to do with that. He said there were many reasons that made him feel that it was necessary for Maszlee to resign.

“The letter I wrote to him has been made public by some irresponsible people. As you can see, there are many reasons. I’m not saying that he did everything wrong.

“There are some of the things that he did which are right, but because of all these other reasons I felt that it is necessary for him to resign; he agreed and he resigned,” he said.

At a press conference at the Education Ministry on January 2, Maszlee announced his resignation, which took effect the following day.