With some grit, Maszlee can make a comeback: Anwar

Former education minister Maszlee Malik has a bright future in politics as long as he has the determination and is consistent in his fight, said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (above).

"He is still young, surely he has a future.

"Many people before him had quit and made a come back. The prime minister had quit, but returned. I had quit, and I returned too.

"This is a matter of determination and consistency in a fight," he told the media in a media conference in Serdang.

The Port Dickson MP was asked to comment on whether Maszlee would have a future in politics following his resignation from helming the education ministry.

In his speech during a ceremony awarding Selangor Tamil schools' students who passed UPSR with flying colours today, Anwar took the opportunity to thank Maszlee for his contributions.

"I would like to convey my appreciation to Maszlee. He had done a lot of reforms for education, focusing on the quality.

"They were not widely discussed. What was discussed were controversial issues.

"I wish him good luck in his political career," he said.

Earlier today, The Malaysian Insight reported that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had urged Maszlee to quit for going against cabinet decisions.

In a purported letter sent to Maszlee last month, Mahathir is said to have ended it with: "It is now time for Yang Berhormat (Maszlee) to withdraw from the cabinet."

Maszlee tendered his resignation on Thursday after meeting Mahathir.

Following the meeting, Maszlee said he was the victim of negative media reports which did not focus on the ministry's many achievements over the past 20 months.

When asked if he agreed that a former Umno member fills the education minister post, Anwar said: "This is a Pakatan Harapan government."

When pressed further, he didn't give media a direct answer, saying "it means this is a Harapan government... if in Harapan, (follow) the spirit and manifesto of Harapan. That is more important".

Previously, certain quarters had suggested former Umno man Mustapa Mohamed, who joined Bersatu in October 2018, as a candidate for the position.

However, Mustapa yesterday said that he would continue to focus his work in Kelantan. 

On another matter, Anwar responded to PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir's call for the Pakatan Harapan secretariat to set a date this year to facilitate a handover for the prime minister's post.

"It's a concern raised as there were attempts to disrupt (the transition).

"But as we agreed, the matter must be discussed between the prime minister and me, or in the presidential council," he said.

In a statement yesterday, Akmal (above), who is the Johor Bahru MP, said: "My suggestion is for the Harapan secretariat to ensure that the upcoming presidential council meeting will set a transition date (for the prime minister's post) in May 2020 to ensure continuity of Harapan's agenda."

Last month, Mahathir, who had repeatedly insisted that he would eventually hand over power to Anwar, said that the process will not likely happen before Malaysia hosts the Apec 2020 summit in November this year. - Mkini