In Malaysian first, two women take charge of education ministry

 

The education ministry is headed by Fadhlina Sidek of PKR (left) with Lim Hui Ying of DAP as her deputy.

PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government has made history by appointing two women MPs to take charge of the education ministry.

The minister is Fadhlina Sidek, appointed last week, and the first woman to hold the post. Her deputy is Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying of DAP, who was appointed today.

Both Fadhlina and Lim are first-time MPs and represent Pakatan Harapan.

Fadhlina has experience as a social activist and lawyer in Islamic family law and child welfare. She is also the Wanita PKR chief and was made a senator in 2021, prior to her election win.

She is also the daughter of Dr Siddiq Fadzil, the former president of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), a Muslim youth organisation founded by Anwar.

Lim is a DAP central executive committee member and secretary of Penang DAP. She was also a senator, appointed in August 2018 to represent Penang.

She is the daughter of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and sister of party chairman and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin was the previous education minister. He had two deputies in Mah Hang Soon from MCA and Mohamad Alamin from Umno. - FMT