PM Mahathir Withdrew Himself As Education Minister

New Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will no longer take on the education ministry portfolio, after members of the public pointed out that his coalition's manifesto had pledged that there would be no double portfolios for the premier.

"I cannot break (the manifesto pledge) at the moment," he said in a video posted on his party's Facebook page on Friday (May 18).

"Unless of course there is a demand that I take up the education portfolio."

The new education minister is former university lecturer Dr Maszlee Malik from Dr Mahathir's Bersatu party, he added in a press release later on Friday.

The U-turn comes a day after Dr Mahathir announced that he would also be the education minister, saying he felt this was something he should give attention to as "many people are uneducated in this country".

While the news was welcomed by many, others pointed out that Pakatan Harapan's manifesto states that "the Prime Minister will not simultaneously hold other ministerial posts, especially the post of Minister of Finance". 

There were reports that leadership had not recalled this themselves in deliberations, thinking that the prime minister was only barred from the finance minister position.

A veteran leader of Pakatan Harapan's Democratic Action Party Lim Kit Siang said he was "stumped" himself. 

"Apart from PM cannot be FM, not aware that PH manifesto proposed PM cannot hold another portfolio," he tweeted on Thursday.

In a media release on Friday, Dr Mahathir also announced the names of several other ministers, including those who will helm the ministries of transport, health, agriculture, housing and human resource. 

A foreign minister has not been appointed.

Altogether, the names for 15 positions - including the prime minister and deputy prime minister posts - were submitted to the king. The names have been approved and they will be sworn in on Monday at 11.30am, said the media release.

Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced on Thursday (May 17) that he will be concurrently Education Minister, in a sign that he intends to be a hands-on leader. His deputy, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will helm the Women Affairs and Welfare portfolio.

 The Cabinet will be sworn in on May 21, pending the Palace’s agreement, the prime minister said in a press conference. “I took the post because there are so many people who are uneducated,” Dr Mahathir, 92, quipped when asked for his decision to name himself Education Minister. He added that he is keen to revamp Malaysia’s education system to help it keep up with the times.

 “The system that we have now is outdated,” he said, explaining that Putrajaya will consider using new technologies such as computers and teaching software to aid educators. Analysts said Dr Mahathir’s decision to take on the education portfolio is not surprising given that he has always taken an interest on education issues in the country. He was also Education Minister from 1974 to 1978, rolling out a new school curricula for both primary and secondary schools designed to offer holistic education to create balanced, all-rounded individuals.

 Dr Mahathir also introduced the policy of teaching mathematics and science in English in 2003 when he was Malaysia’s prime minister but it was scrapped by the government of Najib Razak six years later, claiming that it was unfair on children who were not proficient in the language. “Before he stepped down as prime minister (in 2003), he mentioned that he was worried about Malaysia’s education system. So this time, he will be hands-on to improve what he felt he left out,” Dr Oh Ei Sun, the principal adviser to public policy think tank Pacific Research Centre told TODAY.

 Mr Rashaad Ali, a research analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ (RSIS) Malaysia Programme, added that while some might want to see a new face at the helm of the Education Ministry, Dr Mahathir's “reputation as a taskmaster might just be the tonic needed in an area badly in need of refreshing”. “I do not think this is indicative or a lack of quality ministerial candidates from Pakatan Harapan as all parties have their fair share of intelligent and critical MPs, but rather appears to signal Dr Mahathir's own desire to bring education as his own pet project,” he added.

 The announcement will once again put the spotlight on the workload for Dr Mahathir given his age. His wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, had expressed concerns over his health, noting that he doesn’t have enough sleep. "On one night, he went through 200 (government) documents until 4-5am. At 7am, he was already in the office," she said in a post on the Kelab Che Det Facebook page on Wednesday. With Thursday’s announcement, Dr Mahathir has to date named five people to the Cabinet.

 Last week, he appointed Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as finance minister, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin as home affairs minister and Parti Amanah Negara Mohammad Sabu as defence minister. The remaining eight Cabinet positions would be divided between the four parties in Pakatan Harapan (PH) pact. “This doesn’t represent the strength of each party.

Some will get more, some less later,” he said on Thursday. “At this stage, we are not taking into account the strength of the parties, but we will do so when we appoint the other ministers so that we have a size of 25.”

 Dr Mahathir said the delay in naming his Cabinet picks was due to overlapping demands, noting that “some wanted to hold certain portfolios.” "We will announce it probably tomorrow (Friday) if I can do things in time. If not, we may have to delay (the announcement)," he said, adding that the ruling coalition’s presidential council will be expanded to included Mr Anwar Ibrahim, who walked free from jail on Wednesday after a royal pardon.

 One appointment Dr Mahathir confirmed on Thursday was that of Mr Mohd Shukri Abdull as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief. He will replace Mr Dzulkifli Ahmad. Mr Shukri retired two years ago as the MACC deputy chief commissioner. “We have appointed Mohd Shukri because he has the experience as being part of MACC,” said Dr Mahathir. “He has a lot of expertise and knowledge in handling the current criminal activities.

He fought against any wrongdoings in the MACC and Najib’s role in blocking investigations.” Turning to his meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday, Dr Mahathir said he will ask Singapore for help on investigations into financial irregularities in state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) if it was needed. “He (Mr Lee) said he will be helpful, and if there is a need for me to ask him for help, I will shout for help,” said Dr Mahathir, adding that both sides have not determined any specific topics that will be brought up during the meeting.

 “We haven't fix any subjects, we will have a discussion and if he raises any issues we will discuss them,” he said. “But at the moment, I am still trying to figure out our stand with regards to certain issues which have not been finalised yet.”

Mahathir Helped Free Anwar

He walked out of Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am Wednesday (May 16) a free man and is now en route to Istana Negara to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Anwar was initially scheduled to be released on June 8, 2018, after his five-year sentence that started on Feb 10, 2015 was reduced for good behaviour.

Anwar was supposed to speak to the press outside the centre upon his release, but the sheer hubbub from supporters and media prevented this.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is already at Istana Negara.

Guards at Sungai Buloh prison said that all of Anwar's personal belongings have been sent to the rehabilitation centre.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil earlier said that Anwar is scheduled to hold a press conference at his home in Segambut at around 4pm.

"Anwar will then perform terawih prayers at his home before attending the rally at Padang Timur tonight (May 16)," he told reporters.

The PKR de facto leader has been granted a full Royal Pardon by the Agong, said Anwar's lawyer R. Sivarasa.

"The Pardons Board had presented recommendations to the Agong, who agreed to give Anwar a full pardon.

"He is not only physically free but free to participate in the nation's politics, as past convictions have been expunged," said Sivarasa.

He said Anwar is likely to spend a few days resting and visiting friends here and abroad.

"Maybe in about six weeks time, after Hari Raya, we will begin the process of getting him (Anwar) back into Parliament," he added.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived at the Istana Negara to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Anwar made his way here after being released from the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am Wednesday (May 16).

He arrived at the palace at around noon, and among the first people to greet him there was Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, reported Bernama.

Anwar went in through Gate 1, but media personnel were not allowed to wait there and gathered instead at Gate 2.

The board was to deliberate on the release of the PKR de facto leader and prime minister-designate.

Last Friday (May 11), Dr Mahathir said Sultan Muhammad V had expressed his willingness to grant a full and immediate pardon to Anwar.

The Royal Pardons Board meeting was supposed to be held on Tuesday (May 15) but this was postponed to Wednesday.

Anwar Ibrahim walked from his prison hospital a free man at 11.30am (1.30pm AEST) today into a Malaysia transformed by the stunning electoral victory he helped orchestrate alongside his once-sworn political foe, Mahathir Mohamad.

The 70-year-old democracy champion looked jubilant as he emerged from Kuala Lumpur’s Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital smiling, waving and giving a thumbs-up to crowds of media and well wishers.

Mr Anwar was to have addressed waiting media but was quickly bundled into a black SUV alongside his wife, deputy Prime minister-designate Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, amid increasingly chaotic scenes and a frantic media scrum.

He will instead hold a press conference later today and then address a public rally in a Kuala Lumpur park around 11pm local time.

Police and security struggled to hold back screaming crowds as Mr Anwar, dressed sharply in a slate-blue suit and burgundy tie, was driven out of the hospital where he has been recuperating from shoulder surgery in recent months.

His first appointment as a free man was with King Muhammad V who granted his formal pardon this morning, three years after the one-time deputy prime minister under Mahathir Mohamad between 1993 and 1998 was jailed on a second politically-motivated sodomy charge.

He also attended a working lunch with new Prime Minsiter Mahathir Mohamad and the leaders of their victorious Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition.

The first conviction and jail sentence was under Dr Mahathir in 1998 after the two men fell out over how to handle the Asian Financial Crisis.

“The appeal for a full pardon for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was presented and considered by the 51st Pardons Board meeting,” a statement issued by the Palace shortly after his released said yesterday.

“In line with article 42 of the federal constitution the king, on the advice of the Pardons Board, concerns to grant a full pardon and immediate freedom to Anwar Ibrahim effective from the date of the Pardons Board meeting.”

Mr Anwar has led Malaysia’s reformasi movement for the past two decades — some eight of those from prison.

His expected re-entry into Malaysian public life comes as the country is undergoing a major political transformation following last Wednesday’s shock electoral defeat of a government that has ruled the country for 61 years.

Mr Anwar’s People’s Justice Party is now part of Malaysia’s new ruling coalition government, led by the 92-year-old Dr Mahathir, the country’s fourth and longest serving prime minister who was sworn in as its seventh last Thursday.

The two men set aside 20 years of enmity earlier this year to join forces in an extraordinary political union to unseat now-ousted prime minister Najib Razak who Dr Mahathir said yesterday could soon face charges in connection with the 1MDB global financial scandal.

Underpinning that reunion was a pact: Dr Mahathir, who turns 93 in July, would seek a royal pardon in the event of their victory and eventually hand over the Prime Ministership to Mr Anwar.

While many Anwar loyalists will be eager to see that transition happen soon, Dr Mahathir said yesterday it could be one to two years before it takes place.

Mr Anwar too has said he is in no rush to take over the reins and is happy to allow Dr Mahathir to first set the country’s economy back on course and resolve a number of high profile corruption scandals, including 1MDB

Najib's Investigation to be Expedited

Reports and Cases against Najib will be expedited and to be resolved as soon as possible, said PM Mahathir.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday that he was confident that prosecutors will be able to build up a strong case to bring charges against former leader Najib Razak over graft claims linked to debt-laden state fund 1MDB.

Speaking via video conference to The Wall Street Journal CEO Council Meeting in Tokyo, Tun Dr Mahathir, 92, said: “We are slowly getting to the bottom of things and many of our senior officers are volunteering information accompanied, of course, by documents. We think that within a short while we will have a case against him, we will be able to charge him.”

Dr Mahathir added that he is facing the problem of “trying to trust people to investigate him”.

“Some of these people who were with him had sided with him and we do not know who is going to be loyal to this new government,” he said.


When asked if he might be willing to cut a deal to spare Datuk Seri Najib, if he were to offer information that can recover assets to recover part of the US$4.5 billion (S$6 billion) that is allegedly lost by 1MDB, Dr Mahathir would only say: “No deal.”

SEE ALSO: Malaysia's 92-year-old PM says he'll stay in office for 1-2 years
Dr Mahathir had personally ordered travel restrictions on Mr Najib last Saturday after news spread that the latter was about to fly off to Jakarta for a short break.

Former Prime Minister Najib’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government was ousted in the historic election held last Wednesday (May 9) that marked the first time power has changed hands in the history of Malaysia.

Jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim will receive a royal pardon on Wednesday, Dr Mahathir said, which will pave the way for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) prime minister-in-waiting to run in a by-election and become an MP.

Dr Mahathir, who first led the country from 1981 to 2003 under Umno, is currently Prime Minister under an agreement with PH that he would eventually hand over power to Mr Anwar, whose Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has the most MPs in the four-party alliance.

He told the conference on Tuesday that he will remain as prime minister for one or two years – and would continue to play a role in the background even after he steps down.

In the immediate future, however, Dr Mahathir said Mr Anwar will play the same role in the PKR coalition as leaders of the other three parties in the alliance.

Mahathir Update On New Cabinet, Anwar, Najib Investigation, Sacking of AG, etc.

PM Mahathir's first working day update (Monday 14th May).

Replaced AG, who is asked to go on leave. Update on Jho Low's whereabout. Cabinet formation and restriction imposed on corrupted officials including Najib and Rosmah.

PM Mahathir's Message For Sabah and Sarawak

New PM Named 3 Ministers

PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced the appointment of three Cabinet ministers and an advisory council. PKR leaders were, however, conspicuously absent, signalling that the lineup was, perhaps, not final.

Tun Dr Mahathir: First Press Conference As The New Malaysian Prime Minister

Congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Malaysia. Well Done!

First Speech as Prime Minister Again

Malaysia election 2018 results: Ruling party SHOCK defeat as 92-year-old secures VICTORY

MALAYSIA election results shook the world last night as 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad secured a shock victory, ousting Najib Razak's ruling party for the first time in the country's history.

Malaysia went to the polls yesterday and Najib Razak’s long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) party lost seats in key states that have traditionally been strongholds.

Riding a surge of late support was Mr Mahathir and his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) party, who have secured the majority of 112 seats needed.

The new PM, who will become the world's oldest elected leader at the age of 92, released a statement this morning calling for the urgent formation of a government and for him to be immediately sworn in.

"There has been some delays over a lack of understanding of the constitution, but we'd like to make it clear that there is an urgency here: We need to form the government now — today," Mahathir said.

"That is because currently there is no government of Malaysia."

Sitting PM Razak said he accepted the decision of the vote but argued that no party had won a majority, calling for the country's King to make a decision on who will lead the country.

He said: "I accept, and my friends also accept, the verdict that has been delivered by the people and because no party has gotten a simple majority, therefore the king will be making a decision as to who will be the prime minister."

After urging caution early on in the evening, the Election Commission confirmed last night the opposition alliance had secured victory.

Mr Najib, whose father and uncle both served as Prime Minister, had suffered a loss of support following a series of scandals in recent years.

Mr Mahathir had previously served as Prime Minister for 22 years until 2003.

In recent years he ended his retirement following after becoming angered at Mr Najib's scandals.

A simple majority of 112 seats is required by a party or alliance to rule, a number Mr Mahathir said his party had won.

He said: "We believe that from our official counting that they're left far behind.

"The likelihood is that they will not be forming the government."

He later said he expected to be sworn in as PM in the next day or so.

Protests have begun as opposition supporters fear a controversially-tight final result - with anger growing over postal votes and allegations of fraud.

Many Malaysians living abroad were unhappy with the polling day falling on a Wednesday, as millions of voters were unable to cast their vote.

And last night riot police were called to a results counting centre in Ayer Hiram, Jahor, after crowds were seen stopping unmarked cars from entering.

Hundreds of people can be seen in photos taken at the scene, amid rumours the election commission has refused to sign off a victory for the opposition.

BN has faced a far greater challenge in this election than ever before amid public anger over the cost of living and a multi-billion-dollar scandal that has dogged Mr Najib since 2015.

An election-eve opinion poll suggested support for BN was slipping and Mr Mahathir's alliance would land the most votes in peninsular Malaysia, home to 80 percent of the population in this Southeast Asian nation.

However, under Malaysia's electoral system, the party or alliance with the majority of parliament seats wins, and going into the poll most experts believed that was within the prime minister's reach.

Voters complained on social media groups of long queues outside polling centres, which resulted in a waiting time of up to three hours for some. Opposition leaders had called for voting hours to be extended.

Most results are expected before midnight local time (5pm BST) but the count may spill into the early hours of Thursday.

Malaysia's majority ethnic-Malay Muslims support BN for affirmative-action policies that give them government contracts, cheap housing and guaranteed university admissions.

Mr Mahathir's opposition alliance, which counts on urban votes and support from the minority ethnic-Chinese and Indian communities, hoped that with the former leader of UMNO as its standard bearer it would draw in Malay voters traditionally loyal to BN.

However, Mr Mahathir is a polarising figure and many voters are suspicious of him because of his attacks on independent institutions when he was prime minister between 1981 and 2003.


Mr Najib has been buffeted by the scandal over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund from which billions of dollars were allegedly siphoned off.

U.S. Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has described the scandal at the fund set up by Najib as the worst form of kleptocracy.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed several lawsuits to seize more than $1.7 billion in assets believed to have been stolen from 1MDB.

Mr Najib, who was chairman of 1MDB's advisory board, has denied any wrongdoing and has been cleared of any offence by Malaysia's attorney general.

Power is a Najib family trait, with his father Abdul Razak and uncle Hussein Onn also serving as Malaysia’s prime minister in the past.

When his father died he became an MP at the age of just 23, soon after he graduated from the University of Nottingham.

After serving in a variety of cabinet roles he became Deputy Prime Minister in 2004 and Prime Minister in 2009.

Whether he still holds this role at the end of play today remains to be seen.