KUCHING: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as acting Education Minister could hasten the approval of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) chairman Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng said.
Lau opined that parents with children in Chinese middle schools could rejoice as they expect Dr Mahathir to approve UEC qualifications as a university entry and government vacancy requirement, without delay.
“On the other side, we Sarawakains can expect more allocations from the prime minister, so that sufficient funds can be generated to Sarawak to repair dilapidated schools.
“SPA members are looking to him to fulfil the education promises to Sarawak and then, he should return education and health matters to the state in order for Sarawak to have autonomy over these matters.
“We are currently waiting for Dr Mahathir to reverse the Jawi requirement in primary schools,” Lau said yesterday, commenting on the recent announcement that the prime minister would be acting education minister.
On the flip side, Lau was surprised that Dr Mahathir made a U-turn again, as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) general election manifesto stated that the prime minister would hold other ministerial posts simultaneously.
“Maybe our prime minister is the only leader in the world holding an acting ministerial position. Hence, I ask whether this means that there are no other qualified ministers in the PH Cabinet who can be appointed as education minister.
“Does this mean that during the previous 22 years as prime minister, he has not groomed any young leaders who can be education minister?”
Lau explained that “acting” meant interim over a period of time, however, Dr Mahathir’s appointment did not specify a timeframe.
“Does this mean that Dr Mahathir still wants to hold on to office as prime minister and now acting education minister? Does he plan to pass the leadership to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim anytime soon, as agreed by PH leaders prior to the general election?
“We salute the prime minister for leading the nation at the age of 94 but what would the leaders around the world say as he is now also acting education minister?
“We hope there is no unnecessary negativity created due to this appointment,” Lau said.
In fact, Lau clarified that after Dr Maszlee Malik resigned as education minister, Dr Mahathir could appoint the deputy education minister as acting education minister. “The deputy minister is able and competent. Such appointment would be seen as more appropriate but he (Dr Mahathir) decided otherwise,” Lau added.
