This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on January 6, 2020 - January 12, 2020

It used to be said that a politician who is made education minister has a high chance of ending up as prime minister. Except for Tunku Abdul Rahman, all past PMs — Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak — had held that highly sensitive portfolio.

Of course, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, too, was education minister some 40 years ago. In fact, Mahathir wanted to take that portfolio again after leading Pakatan Harapan to its shock victory 19 months ago. But he was forced to back down after loud protests from inside and outside the coalition on the grounds that the PM should not hold any other Cabinet post.

And so a relatively unknown academician, Maszlee Malik from Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, was appointed. Despite his academic credentials, Maszlee fumbled from the start and became the butt of jokes over black shoes as well as triggering anger over issues such as khat and his self-appointment as president of the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

He is gone. So, who will the PM appoint? If he limits the choice to Bersatu, his options are not many. Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who defected from Umno after the general election, is one name being touted. A safe pair of hands, but the cautious 70-year-old is unlikely to move the needle at a time when education badly needs a major overhaul.

Our own favourite would be Mahathir himself (we can hear the volley of protests!). Otherwise, someone like Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who will have the guts to do what is right, would be a good choice. She is not a parliamentarian, however, and will have to be made a senator first.

Or will Mahathir’s selection of the new education minister be part of a larger political chess game that some are convinced is in the works?

If that is the case, education will, sadly, once again be hostage to politics. Let us hope it does not happen.

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