KUALA LUMPUR: Since assuming the role of Education Minister, Dr Maszlee Malik has been the subject of various controversies as well as the target of criticism.
However, Maszlee chooses to view the experience from a positive angle, and believes that it is part and parcel of the learning process as a first-time minister.
The New Straits Times Press met him at his office in Putrajaya recently for an exclusive interview, in which he detailed his plans to forge a new direction for the country’s education system.
Q: Tell us about your experiences and challenges over the last five months.
A: It has been challenging. We are writing a new chapter in the history of Malaysia. There has been a change in government for the first time in the country’s history, a government that is not Barisan Nasional or Perikatan. We also made history by having a prime minister, whom at 93, is helming the country for the second time. I don’t know if this record will be broken in the future; we also have a minister who is 25-years-old. To us, these five months is akin to five years as every day is filled with new challenges and lessons. It’s a steep learning curve. Yet, our ministers have not lost the drive to form a new Malaysia which is better, and will serve the people despite the myriad of challenges.
Q: There is a visibly huge age gap among the present Cabinet members. You are among the youngest and this is your first experience in politics. How are you coping?
A: In this Cabinet, I’m among the middle-aged group. There are many who are younger, such as Syed Saddiq, Anthony Loke, Yeo Bee Yin. I may not have ministerial experience but in mid-40s, I have experience in the field of education, with non-governmental organisations and humanitarian work. I was fortunate to be appointed Education Minister despite having just entered politics. I may be new as a minister, but I worked my way up from the bottom in education. I was the International Islamic University (IIUM) academic staff president, which gave me the experience to understand the needs of the grassroots. There have been education ministers who have never experienced life as a teacher, lecturer, student and undergraduate. This experience may have merited my being appointed as education minister by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Q: Could you share with us you experience of working with Dr Mahathir since joining the Cabinet?
A: To me, he is someone who is extraordinary. When I was nine-years-old, I received a Hari Raya card from Tun. My mother sent him a card and we received one in return. I figured, he must be someone truly outstanding. My family has always looked up to Tun. And now, having worked with him, I can safely say that he has changed my life. He’s like a father to me. He wants us to learn from our mistakes. He doesn’t seem to tire; he comes in at 8am and still has meetings at 7pm. I also remember some ministers asking him permission to take Raya leave. He replied, ‘ministers don’t take leave’. So to this day, I feel guilty about taking leave. Imagine, can we work like he does, still active at 93? He also encourages us to go beyond our comfort zone and do our best. He doesn’t say much but leads by example.
Q: Your portfolio is a key one in the Cabinet and was given the highest allocation in the 2019 Budget. What are your immediate as well as long-term plans?
A: What I wish to achieve over the next six months will be seen in the beginning of 2019. We’ve undertaken various initiatives since I became the education minister. We’ve laid out three items of focus: The first is inculcating good values in education in school and society. Secondly, boosting the quality of education in school, educational aspects and quality of life for teachers. The third is autonomy and freedom in education. In 2019, we will roll out the Good Values Manual which will be read out during each school assembly. We will introduce a new good value each week, which students will have to read, understand and complete via activities. The manual, now in its final stage, will be done with the cooperation of the media and private sector. I envision that within five years, such values will become a culture. And after 10 years, we will have a community filled with good moral values.
Q: Will you be adopting the Japanese approach of prioritising self-evaluation in our education system?
A: All this while, the education system had focused on the ‘three M’s’ - menulis, membaca, mengira - (writing, reading and arithmetic). We should also add another ‘M’, manusiawi (humanities). Education, as the prime minister says, isn’t just about producing people who are clever, learned and successful but they must also be trustworthy, honest and armed with good values and integrity. This is what we are trying to do. I’m convinced that we will see a revolution in the mindset of Malaysians after 10 years. We will launch this manual at pre-school, primary school, secondary school and university-level. Two new subjects - Philosophy and Ethics - will be introduced in universities. This is what the PM is hoping for, that we will become a society which embraces good moral values.
Q: You have been at the centre of various controversies since becoming a minister. How are you dealing with this?
A: I hold true to the principle of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I see all these as part of the learning process and part of the experience. There are things I wish to achieve for Malaysians so I don’t need to spend time entertaining frivolous issues.
Q: Could you elaborate on (Pakatan Harapan’s) manifesto’s pledge to provide free education?
A: We aim to make university-level education free. But the economic situation has not yet permitted it. This relates to tuition fees. Our fees in public universities are not too costly compared to private universities, hence why we had leaned towards providing free education based on the numbers (government finances) provided before. But when we became the government, we found that the size of the debt overshadowed the government’s finances.
Q: Tell us more on freedom and autonomy for universities.
A: Reform in public universities will centre on academic freedom and autonomy, and returning the power to students. We want to amend certain sections in the AUKU (Universities and University Colleges Act 1971) to enable students to enter politics, and eventually replace the AUKU with another act. After this, students can not just hold elections but student representatives will also be able to attend senate meetings and make decisions with the university authorities. The AUKU amendments will also enable the formation of student unions. In what shape or form, that’s up to the students to decide. Maybe it will be formed next year. I propose that the student unions replace the present Students Representatives Council. The abolishment of the AUKU will take time, and a committee was formed in June for that purpose. With the AUKU’s abolishment, we will introduce a new, more comprehensive act.
Q: Are there any new developments with regards to the repayment of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans?
A: PTPTN had forwarded several suggestions after taking into account the country’s financial situation and the outdated borrowers’ list. We have now identified the data and number of borrowers based on Inland Revenue Board figures. PTPTN is also offering packages to facilitate easy repayment without burdening the borrowers. What’s important is for us to help the borrowers repay their loans. I will be bringing this proposal to the Cabinet for approval.
Q: Any progress on the move to reduce the administrative workload of teachers so that they can focus on teaching?
A: By 2019, we want to ensure that teachers are not burdened with filling in forms and documents. We will work with the NUTP, as well as teachers and principals associations. All this while, teachers have been burdened with unnecessary work. I’m firm in the belief that a teacher’s primary role is to teach and spend time with their students. We have established a committee to discuss with teachers associations on what is necessary and isn’t. There have been four meetings, with positive outcomes. A circular will be issued soon.
Q: Tell us more on the role of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) in the local political scene.
A: It’s a much newer party compared to the others but its members come from various political backgrounds. Some are from Umno, Pas and PKR. Some were activists like me. We also have many young members in Armada and this dynamism will chart the party’s direction. This party also has many senior figures who were once part of the government, such as Tun and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Umno is now in shambles, and many activists who are sincere in their cause experience a new environment when joining PPBM. They’ve shifted to a new mentality unlike that in Umno.