Will Maszlee’s resignation be seen as a victory for DAP, asks analyst

(FMT) – A political analyst today said Maszlee Malik’s resignation as education minister may be seen by some as a “huge victory” for DAP, noting that the party’s leaders had frequently attacked the PPBM man.

On Facebook, Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, from Universiti Utara Malaysia, noted that DAP leaders had clashed with Maszlee on six issues and had, in some cases, called for his resignation.

These included the funding for Chinese independent schools, making Sarawak schools allegedly the ground for “dakwah”, pre-university matriculation quotas, the introduction of Jawi in vernacular schools, the banned comic on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and a university exam question on controversial Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

On the funding for independent schools, Kamarul said DAP leaders, including Bercham assemblyman Ong Boon Piow, had released a statement that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should review Maszlee’s position as minister.

This came after Maszlee said there would be no allocations for Chinese independent schools as they were not part of the national education system.

Ong later apologised after Maszlee clarified that such schools were still assisted through special funding provided for in the nation’s development expenditure.

On the matriculation quota, Kamarul said Maszlee was criticised by some 20 DAP leaders, including some from the party’s Central Executive Committee, like Teng Chang Khim, P Ramasamy and Ronnie Liu.

Kamarul said Liu was quoted as saying: “We need a better education minister.”

Maszlee, Kamarul said, was also attacked en masse over the introduction of Jawi as part of the Year 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus in vernacular schools, with 138 DAP grassroots leaders speaking out against the plan.

He also cited the attack by 43 DAP Youth leaders on Maszlee after he barred the comic book “Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism”, authored by former DAP leader “Superman” Hew Kuan Yau, from being distributed in schools.

The home ministry later banned the book for its “promotion of communism and socialism”.

So, Kamarul said the perception which arose among the people was that Maszlee’s resignation was a victory for DAP.

“It’s not just a few who are saying that DAP leaders, particularly those who urged Maszlee to resign, are celebrating.

“The question is, is it true that DAP has scored a big victory?”