KUALA LUMPUR: Two separate online petitions have been registered on change.org in the past 24 hours backing two different candidates for the position of Education Minister.
The first petition, which calls for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be given the post, has garnered over 51,000 signatures.
While the second petition, which is in support of Education Minister designate Dr Maszlee Malik is trailing close behind with over 38,000 signatures.
“The petition for Dr Mahathir to be the minister hopes to send clear message to the government that the rakyat values education reforms. We are confident with Dr Mahathir’s ability to bring much needed change to the education system in the country,” said the petition writer Raveen Dev.
At noon yesterday he thanked supporters for helping him accomplish more than 30,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Shanmugasunthari Krishnaswamy who pledged for the campaign said “I need changes as a teacher…He is the best.”
While Peter Sekar Peter who may have been referring to Dr Mahathir stint as Education Minister in the 1970s said that the latter had vast experience in the field.
“He wants to set a good foundation for the future of the nation. Tun Mahathir will make sure that there is delivery,” he added.
Meanwhile Elizabeth Gan said that “Tun Dr Mahathir has the right vision to change the education system in Malaysia and let’s hope for a brighter future for the next generation.”
However supporters of Maszlee who cited the former Universiti Islam Antarabangsa’s lecturer’s vast experience claimed that he was the right man for the job.
Helen Chuah who signed the petition said that finally Malaysia was getting an academic for the job.
Noorizan Abdulmajid said that “we want a qualified person for the job and from his CV I am sure he is.”
“Trust Tun Mahathir on his choice,” she added.
Aizat J agreed that fresh leaders were needed to make our system as good as the standards of countries such as Sweden and nurture talents.
While Hafizah Mustapha wrote that she believed the new minister was the man for the job.
The petition writer Nurul Fitrah Marican who registered the campaign 12 hours ago cited that the PPBM Simpang Renggam member of parliament was a senior fellow to the think-tank IDEAS and a prominent speaker on political movements and Islamic politics.
He also has a PhD from Durham University in the United Kingdom.
While Maszlee’s appointment raised eyebrows from those who critised him for his alleged support of Zakir Naik’s views DAP MP Ong Kian Meng has rushed to his defence.
“The task facing Dr. Maszlee is immense. Let’s help him by giving him suggestions on how we can improve our education system rather than judging him based on a superficial reading of who he is and what he represents,” he said on his official Facebook page.
Dr Mahathir took on the Education Portfolio on Thursday but was forced to drop it the next day as it was revealed that Pakatan Harapan manifesto disallowed the prime minister from holding two ministerial portfolios.
He said that he would like to hold the post but would not do so unless there was demand for him to take the post up. Later that day Maszlee was named the Education Minister, designate.