KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has tendered his resignation today, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"I received the resignation that will take effect on Jan 3, 2020. I thank him for the service he rendered as a Cabinet member.
"I will determine his replacement and announce it in a short while," Dr Mahathir said in a brief statement today.
Earlier today, amid speculation that he was being pressured to quit his post, Maszlee called for a press conference and announced his resignation.
"After meeting with Tun (Mahathir) and on his advice - who to me is a statesman, a father figure - with a willing and heavy heart, I Maszlee Malik return my position as education minister to the prime minister effective Jan 3," he was reported as saying.
On why he resigned, Maszlee only said he "believed in the leadership of the prime minister."
The most unpopular cabinet minister of the Pakatan Harapan government – according to a Merdeka Centre poll last year – Maszlee's resignation came amid criticisms about his handling of certain issues, including his failure to bring about the recognition of the United Examinations Certificate or UEC despite it being Pakatan Harapan's election pledge, and the introduction of Jawi in vernacular schools.
He has also been slammed for not having done much to improve the country's standard of education.