By Malcolm Lau
KUCHING, Jan 3: Former Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik was a hardworking leader who had carried out his responsibility to the best of his ability.
Highlighting this, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How said Maszlee has worked hard and very concerned about the schools in the state but perhaps lacked in handling things politically.
“He is very much an academician. He had done his best for schools and children but it is difficult to please everyone,” he told reporters when met at Back To School Programme at SK St Andrew today.
He noted that some 300,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Maszlee to be retained as the Education Ministry.
Yesterday (Jan 2) evening, Maszlee announced his resignation from the Cabinet effective today, on the advice of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, following months of pressure from various quarters over a number of his policies.
This included the introduction of Jawi in schools and the issue of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
See pointed out that Maszlee had visited Sarawak at least three times last year as he was concerned about the dilapidated schools in the state.
“He even asked us to prepare the list of priority schools for him to visit,” he added.
On the Back To School programme, he revealed that it was initiated by Minister of Local and Housing Government Zuiraida Kamaruddin.
“She (Zuraida) is very concerned about getting the students equipped with all the necessities when they are back to schools,” he said.
Some 40 students from SK St Andrew received new school supplies under the programme today.
“I hope by receiving this gifts, students will be happy and motivated to study hard,” he added.
See informed that SK St Andrew was among the many schools which have benefited from the programme in which more than 2,000 pupils have received supplies such as school bags, shoes and stationery since last week.
“We have visited schools in Batu Kitang area, in Bau and we are going to a few schools in Petrajaya too,” he said.
PKR Sarawak vice chairperson Voon Shiak Ni, its information chief Desmond Kho and deputy youth chief Jeffery Mok were present.— DayakDaily
