- 6/4/2025
Prepare for a compelling Sinar Daily Top News podcast featuring former Education Minister and Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik.
In this exclusive conversation, Dr Maszlee shares his unfiltered insights on the aftermath of the PKR party elections, what it means for the party’s future, and how internal shifts could impact national political dynamics.
Join us for an in-depth conversation covering education policies and developments in Malaysia, recent PKR updates and key Asean issues.
Be part of the conversation and stay informed with the stories that matter.
#TopNewsPodcast #SinarDaily #PKR #PKRPolls
#Reformasi #MalaysiaPolitics #PolitikMalaysia
#DrMaszleeMalik #SimpangRenggam
In this exclusive conversation, Dr Maszlee shares his unfiltered insights on the aftermath of the PKR party elections, what it means for the party’s future, and how internal shifts could impact national political dynamics.
Join us for an in-depth conversation covering education policies and developments in Malaysia, recent PKR updates and key Asean issues.
Be part of the conversation and stay informed with the stories that matter.
#TopNewsPodcast #SinarDaily #PKR #PKRPolls
#Reformasi #MalaysiaPolitics #PolitikMalaysia
#DrMaszleeMalik #SimpangRenggam
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🗞
NewsTranscript
00:01Hello everyone, this is Kossilya Slobom, reporter from Sina Daily.
00:04Thank you so much for joining our live today.
00:07So right now I'm at PBAKL, Pesta Buku.
00:10A very, very large Pesta Buku in PWTC.
00:13So today we have a very, very special person,
00:16which is like kesayangan semua orang,
00:18which is our former Education Minister, Dr. Mazli Malik.
00:21Hi sir, how are you?
00:22Hi, Xayla.
00:23Thank you so much for joining us today, sir.
00:25I thank you guys for inviting me for this interview.
00:28Yeah, so it's been a very long time seeing you. How are you?
00:31Yeah, good, great. I'm doing great.
00:33Doing amazing.
00:34So how are you, Xayla?
00:35I'm good, sir. I'm great.
00:36So first of all, congratulations for securing a spot in the Central Committee.
00:41Alhamdulillah.
00:43Thank you, thank you.
00:44Can you share on how you feel and how was the party election?
00:48I feel very thankful to the wakilan who has voted me
00:55to be in the MPP again for this term.
01:00And I would like to express my utmost gratitude to my cabang,
01:08members and committees who have been very supportive
01:13and very helpful throughout the campaign.
01:18And not to forget the rest of the members of the party
01:24who have been showing and expressing their support for me
01:29to be part of this new leadership line-up.
01:33That is really great, sir. Actually, this week is kind of huge.
01:36There's a lot of things which happened.
01:38Yes, yes.
01:39Starting from PKR, ASEAN and also Talk of the Town,
01:43which is the resignation of our Agro-Ministers.
01:47The two Ministers.
01:48Yes. So, like, what's your take on that?
01:51And also, like...
01:52On which one? ASEAN or...?
01:54I mean, flora, physio and fitness.
01:56Oh, okay.
01:57So, what is your take?
01:58I thought you were asking me about ASEAN.
02:00We could have a little.
02:01So, what's your take on that?
02:04Like, what's the party situation now?
02:06Like, are there even two or like three camps?
02:10No, honestly, you know, what's happening now
02:14It's no different from what had happened previously throughout the...
02:22How many years?
02:23More than 25 years of keadilan as a political party.
02:28And, I mean, what to expect from political party?
02:31There was always turmoil.
02:33I mean, throughout the journey, there will always turbulence.
02:36There will always be, let's say, skirmishes here and there.
02:41The only thing is, the party goes on.
02:44I mean, it's not only happened to keadilan.
02:47And, you know, talking about keadilan, this is not the first time
02:50you see this kind of, let's say, rift between the leadership.
02:56Previously, we had a severe one during the Sheraton move, Azmin and the rest.
03:02And, if you dare to go back to 20 years ago, a lot of things happened to the party.
03:10But, the party goes on.
03:12The members are intact strongly.
03:16And, the reform agenda keeps taking its place.
03:19Yeah.
03:20But, looking at other political parties in Malaysia as well, you see, things happen.
03:27And, whether a similar situation, or maybe worse, or maybe not as much as what happened,
03:35it happened in UMNO, it happened in PAS, it happened to DAP, it happened to MC, it happened to everyone.
03:42I mean, that's part of what we call as political maturity.
03:46And, you know, welcome to politics.
03:49Like, is this like a genuine move, or like, or like, like, like, like, genuine move,
03:55or like, like, like, like, they, they follow their emotional, or is this like a threat?
04:00Which one?
04:01Both of their resignations.
04:02Oh, their resignation.
04:03Yeah.
04:04I mean, we, we should respect their choice.
04:06I mean, when they choose to resign due to their loss in, in the party election.
04:13As for Rafizi, he lost the deputy presidency to Luriza.
04:20As for Nick Nazmi, he lost to, I mean, he lost to maintain his night president post.
04:29I mean, it's their choice.
04:32You have to respect.
04:33Yeah.
04:34But, although a lot of people, I mean, I was here at the Pesta Buku since day, since the third day,
04:42and people keep asking me, I said, why should, why should they mix between party matters
04:51and the administrative of the country, of the state?
04:55I know, their position in the cabinet,
05:00and they can score down slow.
05:02Yeah.
05:03They can score down slow.
05:04I think,
05:06I think,
05:07I think,
05:09Yeah.
05:10They can slow down.
05:11Yeah.
05:12Yeah.
05:13They can reduce the sound.
05:14That's it.
05:15Yeah.
05:16Okay.
05:17No.
05:18It's not.
05:19Okay.
05:20Okay.
05:21Okay.
05:22Sorry, sorry.
05:23Sorry.
05:24Sorry.
05:25Sorry.
05:26Sorry.
05:27Sorry.
05:28Sorry.
05:29Sorry.
05:30Sorry.
05:31Sorry.
05:32Sorry.
05:33Minta maaf.
05:34Okay.
05:35Where were we?
05:36I forgot.
05:37Like, why are they mixing them?
05:39Oh, yeah.
05:40I mean, party matters is one thing,
05:43and the position in the cabinet is purely administrative.
05:47I mean,
05:48it's about the country.
05:50Why are they mixing it?
05:51I told them,
05:52those who have been asking me,
05:54I have no answer for that.
05:55They need to ask both of them.
05:58But for me,
05:59as far as I'm concerned,
06:00I mean,
06:01it's their choice.
06:02Their personal choice.
06:03And I'm sure,
06:05they're mature enough
06:06to come up with such a decision
06:08based on,
06:10not only based on their wimp,
06:12but based on certain,
06:14let's say,
06:15a pertimbangan,
06:16certain considerations
06:17that they've made,
06:18they've fully thought of,
06:21and,
06:22unless,
06:23they've made their own decision.
06:24Okay, so like,
06:25what you take,
06:26like, after,
06:27like, right after ASEAN?
06:28Because,
06:29I was there,
06:30and to be honest,
06:31all the media,
06:32we were surprised to see Rafizi was there.
06:33I was like,
06:34he came,
06:35right after he,
06:36I mean,
06:37lose his position in PKR.
06:38It was not,
06:39it was not unexpected
06:40because he has been mentioning that,
06:42and in fact,
06:43he has,
06:44he has made his promise
06:45that he will resign
06:47should he lose
06:48to Nuriza.
06:49So,
06:50when he lost,
06:51he made his move
06:52and it was expected.
06:54And,
06:55Nazri's,
06:56Nazri's move also was expected
06:58because,
06:59he has been known widely
07:00as a loyal disciple
07:02to Rafizi.
07:03So,
07:04when his,
07:05I mean,
07:06his,
07:07let me say,
07:08boss,
07:09took such a bold
07:11and big decision
07:12due to his promise.
07:14So,
07:15Nick Dazmi is following
07:16the footsteps of his boss.
07:18And also,
07:19he waited,
07:20Rafizi,
07:21like,
07:22he waited till the ASEAN to finish, right?
07:23Oh,
07:24which is very professional.
07:25Very professional,
07:26we should,
07:27I mean,
07:28we should respect that.
07:29I mean,
07:30I mean,
07:31he could make that decision
07:34during ASAN
07:35but,
07:36there would not be a good image
07:38for Malaysia.
07:39They would have like,
07:40a very wrong,
07:41signal
07:43to
07:44ASEAN leaders
07:45and to the media
07:46as a whole.
07:47But, I mean,
07:48they, both of them were professional enough
07:50to wait until the end of ASEAN
07:52and then only they submitted their
07:54resignation,
07:55I mean,
07:56there are two letters,
07:57resignation and their
07:58leave application.
08:00Yeah.
08:01Yeah.
08:02Okay.
08:03So, like,
08:04is there like,
08:05any other like,
08:06political,
08:07political message,
08:08like,
08:09he resigned the day after ASEAN?
08:10I mean,
08:11you should ask that question
08:12to both of them.
08:14I cannot answer on behalf of
08:16two of them.
08:17Yeah.
08:18Okay.
08:19So, next,
08:20going to another topic,
08:21which is also due to the peculiar election,
08:22which is nepotism.
08:23I think,
08:24like,
08:25the word nepotism is more famous
08:26than Bollywood.
08:27Usually, Bollywood,
08:28they have a lot of nepotisms.
08:29Right.
08:30And now,
08:31we're having it.
08:32I was busy with Sikandar,
08:33the latest movie on Netflix.
08:34Huh?
08:35So, I think that's more interesting
08:36than nepotism,
08:37the word nepotism.
08:38Yes, sir.
08:39So,
08:40as for the viewers,
08:41as you all know,
08:42Norul Iza is the daughter
08:43of the PKR President
08:44who is also Prime Minister
08:45Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.
08:46So,
08:47sir,
08:48and she actually won
08:49the deputy president
08:50based on the votes.
08:51But,
08:52to ask you,
08:53is it based on nepotism?
08:54You know,
08:55she won the position
08:57because she was voted
08:58by the perwakilan.
09:00That's why she was there.
09:01Should he lost
09:03to Rafizi?
09:04Would people call it nepotism?
09:06I'm not sure.
09:07But,
09:08because he won that position,
09:10and because he is,
09:11she is,
09:12the daughter of Anwar,
09:13then people started accusing
09:15of nepotism.
09:16I'm wondering,
09:17when I was in Bersatu,
09:19the chairman of Bersatu was
09:22Tun Mahathir,
09:23and then the deputy president
09:27of Bersatu was
09:28Mukherizmin Mahathir.
09:29But,
09:30there was never an issue
09:32of nepotism,
09:33and,
09:34Najib Tun Razah was a former
09:36president of UMNO,
09:38and,
09:39we have got his son
09:41in Pemuda UMNO,
09:42but,
09:43why there was no,
09:44there was not an issue
09:45of nepotism.
09:46In past,
09:47for example,
09:48you have,
09:49uh,
09:50Ajih Hadi,
09:51as a president,
09:52and you have his son-in-law
09:54in Dewan Ulama,
09:55you have his son
09:56in,
09:57uh,
09:58one Tarbangsa of,
09:59uh,
10:00past,
10:01and,
10:02and before him,
10:03it was,
10:04uh,
10:05the late Tuan Guru Nick Aziz,
10:06and his son,
10:07you know,
10:08became,
10:09uh,
10:10wakil rakyat,
10:11and,
10:12there was no issue
10:13of nepotism.
10:14And,
10:15I mean,
10:16if you look at DAP,
10:17it's more interesting.
10:18You've got the family of limbs,
10:19and you've got the family of,
10:20uh,
10:21Karpals,
10:22everywhere.
10:23Not,
10:24not only one son,
10:25or one daughter,
10:26I mean,
10:27the whole family was there.
10:28And,
10:29talking about political dynasty,
10:30it's not only a unique,
10:31a feature of Malaysia.
10:32You see,
10:33in the US,
10:34obviously,
10:36in Singapore,
10:37our neighbor,
10:38you have,
10:39the,
10:40the big Lee,
10:41and the smaller Lee.
10:42But, luckily,
10:43we don't have another small,
10:44smallest Lee,
10:45in the picture.
10:46But, I mean,
10:47that's normal.
10:48nepotism,
10:49would be a problem,
10:51would,
10:52would,
10:53would become,
10:54a major problem,
10:55if any,
10:56of the leaders,
10:57appointed directly,
10:59his family members,
11:01to a position,
11:02uh,
11:03that,
11:04that should be contested.
11:05Number one,
11:06or,
11:07they've been given,
11:09certain projects,
11:10or certain tenders,
11:11certain,
11:12uh,
11:13perks,
11:14that's supposed to be contested,
11:16that's supposed to be,
11:17uh,
11:18let's say,
11:19tendered,
11:20but,
11:21it was awarded directly,
11:22to any of the family members,
11:24that is nepotism.
11:25For example,
11:26you would see the case of,
11:27one of the political parties,
11:29the previous prime minister awarded,
11:32or,
11:33the son-in-law,
11:34I mean,
11:35was,
11:36enjoying certain perks,
11:37that now is a court case,
11:38and,
11:39people couldn't see,
11:40where is his son,
11:41where is his son-in-law,
11:42because,
11:43they benefited,
11:44from,
11:45their father,
11:46or father-in-law position,
11:47as a prime minister then,
11:49for certain period of months,
11:51and,
11:52and now,
11:53there's an ongoing case also,
11:54on,
11:55the son-in-law of,
11:57another,
11:58previous prime minister,
12:00who is now,
12:01I mean,
12:02interrogated,
12:03by the SPRM.
12:04Uh,
12:05I mean,
12:06not only that,
12:07but,
12:08the,
12:09other,
12:10previous prime minister,
12:11also,
12:12being,
12:13interrogated,
12:14by the SPRM,
12:15not only him,
12:16but also his son,
12:17and also son-in-law,
12:18due to the wealth,
12:19that they acquired,
12:20and,
12:21been,
12:22deposited,
12:23abroad.
12:24So,
12:25those are napotism.
12:26Yeah,
12:27because,
12:28I mean,
12:29the son-in-law,
12:30or whatever,
12:31they were not,
12:32elected,
12:33by the people,
12:34they were not,
12:35elected,
12:36by the public,
12:37but they've been,
12:38awarded,
12:39certain chunk of wealth,
12:40that suppose,
12:41uh,
12:42to be,
12:43distributed,
12:44fairly,
12:45through a fair,
12:47tender process,
12:48and procurement process,
12:49but,
12:50it didn't happen,
12:51and,
12:52the biggest nepotism,
12:53is,
12:54one of the,
12:55uh,
12:56previous,
12:57uh,
12:58minister,
12:59during,
13:00that,
13:01has been,
13:02smuggling,
13:03and,
13:04hiding,
13:05cooking oil,
13:06that's the biggest nepotism.
13:07Wow,
13:08that's a lot,
13:09actually,
13:10which has not,
13:11come to surface,
13:12like,
13:13right,
13:14oh,
13:15yeah,
13:16because,
13:17okay,
13:18but,
13:19but then,
13:20sir,
13:21when I go to the media,
13:22when I go to the comments,
13:23but some,
13:24they say she deserves that,
13:25because,
13:26like,
13:27very,
13:28um,
13:29outspoken,
13:30very bold,
13:31and she always come forward,
13:32and she deserves that spot.
13:33I mean,
13:34at the end of the day,
13:35she has been elected,
13:36by the perwakilan,
13:37and,
13:38definitely,
13:39we cannot,
13:40underestimate,
13:41the,
13:42uh,
13:43uh,
13:44normally,
13:45they will vote,
13:46based on the credentials,
13:48and credibility,
13:49of the candidates.
13:50Honestly,
13:51Rafizi,
13:52was an amazing candidate,
13:54Nuriza,
13:55similarly,
13:56was a magnificent candidate.
13:58So,
13:59it makes,
14:00the perwakilan,
14:01then,
14:02in a very tough,
14:03and difficult,
14:04uh,
14:05condition,
14:06to choose either,
14:07one of them.
14:08But,
14:09eventually,
14:10they have decided,
14:11and,
14:12as we,
14:13respect the process of democracy,
14:15we also respect,
14:16the choice of the perwakilan.
14:19Okay, so,
14:20forward,
14:22the president's daughter,
14:23like, only enhances,
14:24or, like,
14:25complicate,
14:26her leadership,
14:27the prospect,
14:28within PKR,
14:29and also,
14:30potentially,
14:31the cabinet.
14:32So,
14:33should political parties,
14:34set clearer protocols,
14:35to address,
14:36um,
14:37public concerns,
14:38over nepotism,
14:39in leadership role?
14:40Such as?
14:41Like,
14:42Could you give me,
14:43an example of that?
14:44they should have, like,
14:45clearer, like,
14:46protocols, like?
14:47If,
14:48a father,
14:49holds certain period,
14:50hence,
14:51the,
14:52the mother,
14:53or the son,
14:54cannot,
14:55hold any office barrier.
14:56That should be, like,
14:57not,
14:58not fair, right?
14:59I don't know, but,
15:01but now, I think,
15:02post-COVID,
15:03the country,
15:04in,
15:05is in a very difficult situation.
15:08Uh,
15:09throughout the 33 months of,
15:11Perikatan National Administration,
15:14it did not bring the country,
15:16to anywhere better.
15:17So,
15:18we were,
15:19we were having,
15:20a very tough situation,
15:22economically,
15:23politically,
15:24in terms of health,
15:26in terms of education,
15:27and,
15:28if you look at the,
15:29at the,
15:30at the international,
15:31uh,
15:32ranking,
15:34in many aspects,
15:36we have been left behind.
15:38But,
15:39thanks to the new government,
15:40government,
15:41since,
15:42uh,
15:43PMX took the leadership,
15:44there had been a lot of improvements,
15:47economically,
15:48financially,
15:49in terms of investment,
15:50in terms of,
15:51uh,
15:52politics, I would say,
15:53a lot of reforms have been taken,
15:54at the level of,
15:56uh,
15:57parliament,
15:58at the level of,
15:59administration,
16:00and level of civil servants,
16:01and,
16:02now, we are on the right track.
16:03I think the country is moving on the right track.
16:05A lot of indicators,
16:07have been showing that,
16:08we keep improving,
16:10from day to day.
16:12So,
16:13I think we need to put,
16:14the priority,
16:16of the country,
16:17the priority,
16:19of the people,
16:20before anything else.
16:22So,
16:23the pace,
16:24that this government,
16:25is taking the lead,
16:26to bring,
16:27uh,
16:28the country,
16:29or to lift the country,
16:31towards the position that it deserve,
16:34should not be,
16:36uh,
16:37uh,
16:38let us say,
16:39distracted,
16:40with some kind,
16:41of any rushing,
16:42uh,
16:43for certain,
16:44maybe,
16:45later would be something ideal,
16:47but at the moment,
16:48we should put,
16:49the priority,
16:50on the economic reform,
16:52on the economic recovery.
16:54Yeah.
16:55I understand sir.
16:56So moving forward,
16:57on cabinet,
16:58uh,
16:59stability and restructure.
17:00So now they say,
17:01they might restructure,
17:02right?
17:03The cabinet reshuffle.
17:04Who,
17:05who said that?
17:06In the,
17:07in the event of a mid-term reshuffle.
17:08Huh?
17:09There might be a cabinet reshuffle.
17:10There might be.
17:11Yeah.
17:12It's a,
17:13it's a hypothetical question.
17:14I thought,
17:15the prime minister told you.
17:16There might be.
17:17There might be.
17:18Yeah.
17:19And there might be not.
17:20Yeah.
17:21Yeah.
17:22So if,
17:23if there is a reshuffle,
17:24so do you think...
17:25Again,
17:26it's a hypothetical question.
17:27Yeah.
17:28Is there enough capable leaders to replace Rafisi and Nick Azmi?
17:33I would say that,
17:34the country has a lot of talents.
17:36Not only within,
17:38the unity government,
17:39even with,
17:40outside the unity government.
17:41I mean,
17:42we're talking about Malaysians.
17:43Be them,
17:44political leaders,
17:45be them,
17:46the technocrats.
17:47We have a lot of brains.
17:49We have a lot of talents.
17:50And sometimes,
17:51I would say that,
17:53we don't really put appreciation
17:55on the talents that we have.
17:57So,
17:58coming back to your question,
17:59definitely,
18:00I'm sure,
18:02the prime minister
18:04has already got the contingency plan
18:07within his mind.
18:08I mean,
18:09yeah,
18:10he's number one.
18:11He can see,
18:12he can,
18:14he can look at the political scenario
18:17with an eagle eye
18:18and with 360 degree vision.
18:21Yeah.
18:22I mean,
18:23they are prepared.
18:24I'm not sure they,
18:25but I think,
18:26the prime minister
18:27is more than prepared.
18:29And normally,
18:30I mean,
18:31being,
18:32being a politician,
18:33you must have in your mind,
18:34contingency plans,
18:35backup plans,
18:36whatever.
18:37What more?
18:38The prime minister.
18:39Yeah.
18:40So,
18:41also,
18:42what is your comment?
18:43Because some has proposed,
18:44like merging the ministry,
18:45like,
18:46to,
18:47like,
18:48merge economy and finance,
18:49and also,
18:50or,
18:51like,
18:52Miti to reduce the reduction.
18:53So,
18:54which means...
18:55that.
18:56I never had that imagination
18:57in my mind.
18:58That's too wild.
18:59That's too wild.
19:00No, no,
19:01I'm just joking.
19:02I mean,
19:03you need to ask them.
19:04I,
19:05I never had that in my mind.
19:06Also,
19:07if...
19:08I'm only,
19:09with the idea of merging
19:10between the higher education
19:11and the ministry of education,
19:13because I,
19:14I couldn't see the,
19:15the,
19:16not,
19:17I couldn't see.
19:18I,
19:19I believe
19:20in the continuity of education
19:22from the foundation
19:23to the tertiary education.
19:24It should be in one.
19:26But, you know,
19:27that's my very personal point of view.
19:29As for,
19:31the,
19:32the government
19:33and the Prime Minister,
19:34they know best.
19:35Yeah.
19:36Okay, so next,
19:37moving on to our Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership,
19:40and also,
19:41his reform agenda.
19:42Back then,
19:43I was one of the media
19:45during the GE 15,
19:46and I covered the Pakatan Harapan punya
19:48tira pengundi dekat yang Subhanjaya tu.
19:51So, I was there,
19:52and I saw how wild
19:53fans and Malaysians were,
19:55they wanted Anwar to win anyone.
19:57Like,
19:58the five years.
19:59I was there too.
20:00Okay, yeah.
20:01So, I was one of the reporters.
20:02Sawjana,
20:03Sawjana Hotel,
20:04I'm alright?
20:05Yeah,
20:06in Subang too.
20:07Dorset.
20:08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:09So, I saw how people,
20:10they were like,
20:11out of their mind.
20:12They wanted,
20:13so,
20:14how?
20:15I see like,
20:16some are having a business agreement,
20:17and like,
20:18the next GE is like,
20:19another two years.
20:20So, I don't know how it's going to be,
20:22with all these things happening now.
20:23So,
20:24Where did you pick up that?
20:25It's me.
20:26Because,
20:27because,
20:28I am seeing the,
20:29what are the people talking,
20:30like,
20:31the comments.
20:32Sometimes,
20:33when I meet people,
20:34they are saying this to me.
20:35So, I feel okay,
20:36like,
20:37they are just wondering,
20:38how the next GE is going to be,
20:39and all.
20:40So, I'm asking like,
20:41with all these political developments,
20:43like,
20:44who can maintain his position,
20:45as Prime Minister,
20:46in the next GE?
20:47Who can replace him?
20:48I mean,
20:49if people,
20:50according to what you say,
20:52if people,
20:53is having a second thought,
20:55in their mind,
20:56about replacing him,
20:57but,
20:58who can replace him?
21:03At the moment.
21:04At least at the moment.
21:05Because,
21:06I couldn't think of,
21:07anybody else,
21:08who could take this country,
21:10at this pace,
21:11to bring the country forward,
21:13and to maintain,
21:15the economic recovery,
21:17that the government is leading.
21:20And we could see,
21:21the wise leadership of,
21:22I don't know,
21:23whether you like him or not,
21:24but,
21:25he is the glue,
21:26for the unity government,
21:28and he is the dynamo,
21:30of this economic recovery,
21:32and bringing this country forward.
21:34But,
21:35you say that people,
21:36according to your,
21:38according to your words,
21:40people,
21:41having less,
21:42enthusiasm,
21:43about him,
21:44in compared to,
21:46in compared to,
21:47three years ago,
21:48but,
21:49who did they have in their mind?
21:50Haji Adi?
21:51Or,
21:52Mahudan Yassin?
22:03At the moment,
22:04we are loved,
22:05with no,
22:06ideal choice,
22:07except,
22:08Datuk Syedna Abrahim.
22:14Not because,
22:15not because it's my party president,
22:16but,
22:17that is the reality,
22:18at least.
22:19I mean,
22:20I mean,
22:21take,
22:22take off my,
22:23my,
22:24my,
22:25party cup,
22:26and,
22:27if I'm talking as a normal citizen,
22:29I would author the same thing.
22:31Because,
22:32at the moment,
22:33we are loved,
22:34with no other ideal,
22:35and,
22:36realistic choice,
22:37apart from,
22:39Datuk Syedna Abrahim.
22:40At least,
22:41from my,
22:42very personal,
22:43point of view,
22:44that I trust,
22:45it's been shared by,
22:46vast majority,
22:47of the people in Malaysia.
22:49Of course,
22:50this satisfaction is always there.
22:51I mean,
22:52they don't like him,
22:53because of this,
22:54because of that.
22:55So remember,
22:56I met certain,
22:57young people,
22:58they said,
22:59oh,
23:00he's too old for that.
23:01I said, okay,
23:02if you want a younger,
23:03a younger leader,
23:04who, who can replace him?
23:05They couldn't,
23:06find with any other alternative.
23:07And some said,
23:08oh,
23:09I don't like him,
23:10because he used the,
23:11the word,
23:12ketimbang a lot.
23:13I said, come on,
23:14is that the word,
23:15ketimbang that you,
23:16you're worried of,
23:17and you don't worry about the,
23:18the future of the country,
23:19the future of your children?
23:20I mean,
23:21put aside the ketimbang,
23:22and look at the bright side of,
23:24what he has been doing,
23:25and how is,
23:26how is leading the country?
23:28And,
23:29you know,
23:30the satisfaction,
23:31are normal,
23:32here and there.
23:33But,
23:34at the end of the day,
23:35I think,
23:36he's on the right track,
23:37and he's,
23:38is,
23:39is the best,
23:41ideal choice,
23:43that we have at the moment.
23:45An idealistic,
23:46and realistic choice,
23:47that we have at the moment.
23:49Hmm,
23:50I agree to you,
23:51that's a,
23:52okay,
23:53so.
23:54And, definitely,
23:55the,
23:56his opponent,
23:57or my,
23:58the political,
23:59ah,
24:00ah,
24:01just put aside,
24:02even if I'm not,
24:04if I don't belong to,
24:05just name me,
24:07any other alternative,
24:09other than,
24:10I couldn't find any.
24:11People might have in their mind,
24:13but,
24:14for me,
24:15I couldn't find,
24:16any,
24:17any other person.
24:18Yeah.
24:19This could be like,
24:20like,
24:21an I will play to those,
24:22who are like,
24:23all right,
24:24so, moving to the next,
24:25about our,
24:26education,
24:27ah,
24:28Minister Fadila Siddiq,
24:29of the Education Ministry.
24:30Okay,
24:31critics,
24:32actually,
24:33they have called her,
24:34as being like,
24:35emotional,
24:36and she couldn't take criticism,
24:38she struggles to handle criticism,
24:39so.
24:40Who are those critics?
24:41I,
24:42there are many,
24:43you know,
24:44netizens,
24:45they are the biggest critics.
24:46Okay.
24:47Sorry.
24:48So,
24:49they are like,
24:50saying that,
24:51okay.
24:52So,
24:53we,
24:54we actually go through,
24:55let me just call like,
24:56all right,
24:57so, as a former,
24:58education minister,
24:59so, how do you evaluate,
25:00her performance,
25:01and the public's reaction?
25:02Okay,
25:03I'm not in a position,
25:04to evaluate anyone,
25:05any of the ministers,
25:06and what more,
25:07the one that,
25:08who is,
25:09serving,
25:10and doing their job.
25:11But,
25:12the one who can evaluate them,
25:13are the stakeholders.
25:14The teachers,
25:15the education,
25:16educationists,
25:17the parents,
25:19the,
25:20the,
25:21education fraternities,
25:22and media like you guys.
25:24And maybe,
25:25you said,
25:26the netizens.
25:27As for me,
25:28I reserve my comments.
25:31Okay, sir.
25:32Actually,
25:33I came across a post,
25:34where,
25:35a person,
25:36they were saying,
25:37okay,
25:38if there's a cabinet reshuffle,
25:39or what,
25:40if there is a need,
25:41for a new,
25:42education minister,
25:43so who,
25:44who would you think,
25:45because who,
25:46I read the comment,
25:47and most of them,
25:48they said you.
25:49Oh, really?
25:50They named you,
25:51yeah,
25:52they tagged you.
25:53You should see the post.
25:54You can share it with me.
25:55Even teachers,
25:56they say,
25:57as a teacher,
25:58I would like,
25:59like,
26:00want you to become the,
26:01education minister.
26:02So,
26:03like,
26:04would you be open to,
26:05like,
26:06to a cabinet person now?
26:07There are two things.
26:08Again, you're asking me,
26:09a hypothetical question.
26:10Number one,
26:11when it comes to teachers,
26:12and educationists,
26:13and the education fraternity,
26:16the other day,
26:17when I was interviewed,
26:18I keep saying that,
26:19I'm trying to detach them from my heart,
26:21but they refuse,
26:22they keep coming back,
26:23and,
26:24I mean,
26:25they refrain to leave my heart,
26:26and,
26:27I cannot blame them.
26:28I cannot blame myself for that.
26:29I think mainly because,
26:31we all believe,
26:32in,
26:33education as a best tool,
26:35to,
26:36to ensure,
26:37the,
26:38not only the development of this country,
26:40but the stability,
26:41and the continuity,
26:43and the,
26:45like to say,
26:46sustainability,
26:47of the prosperity of the country,
26:49that we enjoy nowadays,
26:50and,
26:51we trust that,
26:52Malaysia deserve,
26:53much better than what we had today.
26:55The only conduit for it,
26:57is education.
26:58And number two,
27:00and number two,
27:02talking about that,
27:04it just remind me of,
27:06Rafiziz,
27:07note,
27:08his lengthy,
27:09a long letter,
27:10that he write,
27:11upon his resignation.
27:14He said that,
27:15RM13,
27:16will,
27:18mainly,
27:19focusing on,
27:20education reform.
27:21It's going to be a massive,
27:23colossal thing,
27:24for the country.
27:26And I think,
27:27it's not only,
27:28what,
27:29Rafiziz had in mind,
27:31in his mind,
27:32but also,
27:33the vision,
27:34of the Prime Minister,
27:35that he shared with,
27:36with Rafiziz.
27:37because,
27:38when you talk about,
27:39RM,
27:40be it,
27:4113,
27:42or 12,
27:43or whatever,
27:44it will continue,
27:45it's a collective,
27:47effort,
27:48by all ministries,
27:50and guided by the vision,
27:52of the Prime Minister.
27:54It's going to be a massive thing.
27:56If we look,
27:58at the condition,
27:59of,
28:00the education,
28:01at the moment,
28:02I'm not sure,
28:03whether,
28:04the ministry,
28:05can handle,
28:06that big thing.
28:07It requires,
28:09a dedicated,
28:11a leadership,
28:12a firm,
28:13and those,
28:14who know,
28:15what the Prime Minister wants,
28:17and what they wanted it to be.
28:19And,
28:20it requires,
28:21a holistic way,
28:23in looking into education.
28:25Not only,
28:26at the foundational level,
28:27but also,
28:28at the tertiary level.
28:29If you ask me,
28:30my very personal point of view,
28:33maybe the next term,
28:35the Prime Minister himself,
28:36should take that portfolio,
28:38as the Minister of Education.
28:40Because,
28:41we can see,
28:42the performance of our economy,
28:44the performance of our,
28:45let we say,
28:46financial stability,
28:48is on the right track.
28:50And,
28:51the best person,
28:52to lead,
28:53the educational reform,
28:54is the Prime Minister himself.
28:56Wow,
28:57this is unexpected,
28:58but yeah.
28:59I mean,
29:00the netizens,
29:01they can say whatever they want.
29:02I mean,
29:03the teachers,
29:04they can say whatever they want.
29:05If only,
29:06choosing the Minister,
29:07just like you,
29:08choosing the winner,
29:09of Academy Pantasia,
29:10through the votes,
29:11or whatever,
29:12that would,
29:13that would be a wishful thing,
29:14to happen.
29:15But,
29:16we want to look,
29:17the future of our country,
29:18we want the best,
29:19for our people,
29:20we want the best,
29:21for our children,
29:22and we know,
29:23that Malaysia,
29:24deserve better.
29:25Who understand,
29:27best of the reform,
29:29that we aspire for,
29:30is the Prime Minister himself.
29:32Let him lead,
29:33the Ministry of Education.
29:35So,
29:36can he,
29:37because as a Prime Minister,
29:38also as a Finance Minister,
29:40and also?
29:41Means,
29:42he needs to appoint somebody else,
29:43to lead the,
29:44Minister of Finance.
29:45And we have a lot,
29:46a lot of talent.
29:47And even now,
29:48we have,
29:49two deputies,
29:50for his,
29:51uh,
29:52Finance Minister,
29:53uh,
29:54Finance Minister,
29:55Am I right?
29:56Yep.
29:57Okay,
29:58that is a really,
29:59really nice statement.
30:00Okay.
30:01Put the country first.
30:02Yes, yes,
30:03I can agree to that.
30:04Okay, so next,
30:05this is something like,
30:06we all cannot ignore,
30:07and this has been happening,
30:08the whole year,
30:10which is,
30:11bass,
30:12bass,
30:13Bella,
30:14Astila,
30:15and Shishadiq.
30:16At first,
30:17at first,
30:18somebody was mentioning,
30:19bass,
30:20bass,
30:21is it bass or bass?
30:22Bass,
30:23bass,
30:24whatever.
30:25I thought it's a,
30:26I thought it's a bass guitar.
30:27Yeah.
30:28And then she said,
30:29oh,
30:30Bella,
30:31Astila,
30:32Shishadiq.
30:33Did you,
30:34did you come to their videos?
30:36No,
30:37I didn't follow their,
30:38their videos and their,
30:39uh,
30:40advertisement and the promotions.
30:42But sometime,
30:43uh,
30:44news and,
30:45some,
30:46snippets of,
30:47of,
30:48of the video,
30:49did come across my wall,
30:50but,
30:51I don't really pay much attention to those.
30:54Because,
30:55Seth Sadiq was,
30:56was a student of,
30:57of mine when I was in,
30:59uh,
31:00International Islamic University,
31:01and we were together in,
31:02Bersatu.
31:03I mean,
31:04he's a smart,
31:05uh,
31:06young chap,
31:07young leader.
31:08And,
31:09I mean,
31:10he knows what,
31:11what he's doing.
31:12So when you ask him about,
31:13about bass,
31:14bass,
31:15whatever,
31:16I mean,
31:17not,
31:18have,
31:19an adequate information about,
31:21that thing,
31:22but,
31:23I trust,
31:24he knows what he's doing.
31:25Yeah.
31:26Hey,
31:27what about his court case?
31:28I haven't heard of it.
31:29Yeah,
31:30we're going to come into that.
31:31Oh really?
31:32You know,
31:33they have their next hearing,
31:34I guess,
31:35I'm not sure about the deal,
31:36I'm sorry,
31:37but, yeah,
31:38he has his next hearing.
31:39I know less about it.
31:40Yeah, like,
31:41postponing, postponing,
31:42and on.
31:43But then,
31:44because of this bass,
31:45or bass,
31:46I'm sorry,
31:47if I mentioned it wrongly,
31:48they are like,
31:49his,
31:50his court case has been quiet,
31:51and more like,
31:52attention goes to this bass,
31:54right?
31:55like,
31:56like,
31:57like,
31:58Ahim and Bella,
31:59like,
32:00with their charity work in Muar,
32:01and also,
32:02they are like,
32:03helping everyone,
32:04with their TikTok videos,
32:05charities,
32:06and all.
32:07So,
32:08do you think this is a genuine support,
32:09like,
32:10a public distraction?
32:11Oh,
32:12it's interesting.
32:13I think media people,
32:14they know best.
32:15People like you.
32:16But,
32:17for,
32:18a politician like me,
32:19I would say,
32:20based on my evaluation,
32:21sometimes Malaysians,
32:23they,
32:24adore,
32:25light,
32:26simple,
32:28interesting,
32:29entertainment.
32:30Ah,
32:31they,
32:32oh,
32:33oh,
32:34sorry,
32:35oh,
32:36oh,
32:37did I move a lot?
32:40No, no, no.
32:41Ah,
32:42I don't know.
32:43Oh,
32:44okay,
32:45now you stick back.
32:46Okay,
32:47they,
32:48they,
32:49I mean,
32:50Malaysians,
32:51I would say,
32:52mainly,
32:53vast majority of Malaysians,
32:55they don't like heavy stuff,
32:57they don't like,
32:58serious stuff,
32:59and what more,
33:00painful stuff.
33:01So,
33:02when,
33:03there are entertainments,
33:04from,
33:05anyone,
33:06interesting things,
33:07and very light,
33:08I mean,
33:09they would enjoy it,
33:10they would rejoice it,
33:11and they would,
33:12celebrate it.
33:13So,
33:14wallahualam,
33:15I never follow that,
33:16bus,
33:17bus, whatever it is,
33:18but I think,
33:19Malaysians like that.
33:21Wah,
33:22Ujang,
33:23my very favourite Katanis,
33:25big fan.
33:28Okay, sorry.
33:29Okay,
33:30Abang Ujang.
33:31Ah,
33:32tengah live.
33:33Ah,
33:34thank you,
33:35thank you.
33:36Ah,
33:37this is the book,
33:38Abang Ujang.
33:39I've been married from
33:4013 years old.
33:42Oh,
33:43that's a true fan.
33:44I'm a big fan.
33:46Okay,
33:47so,
33:48coming back to base bars,
33:49or whatever.
33:50You said that,
33:51Malaysians love this kind of thing.
33:52Oh,
33:53yeah.
33:54Okay,
33:55so,
33:56do you believe,
33:57like,
33:58this public relationship,
33:59is being used as their strategic PR,
34:00or like,
34:01move to manage,
34:02public perceptions,
34:03amid their legal case?
34:04Who am I to judge that?
34:06I,
34:07I have,
34:08least knowledge of all these things.
34:09Only media people knows this.
34:13Only media people can say that.
34:15But not a politician like me.
34:16Yeah.
34:17Okay, so,
34:18we have come to the end,
34:19for the last question.
34:20Yeah.
34:21Oh,
34:22it's really fast.
34:23And you also answer,
34:24straight to the point,
34:25it's very easy for us.
34:26Really?
34:27Yeah.
34:28So,
34:29for the last question.
34:30So,
34:31we are entering June this Sunday.
34:32Oh,
34:33it's getting more interested over there.
34:34Yeah,
34:35so,
34:36we are like,
34:37June the,
34:38honey.
34:39So,
34:40six months,
34:41five months has just passed.
34:42Time flies.
34:43Yeah.
34:44So,
34:45like,
34:46how would you rate the first half of the year for Malaysia?
34:49And what do you hope for,
34:50with the second half of the year coming?
34:52I think I've mentioned,
34:54I've mentioned repeatedly,
34:57saying that,
34:58we're on the right track.
34:59Economic recovery is there,
35:02and you could see a tremendous performance of Malaysia,
35:06of Malaysia at international level.
35:08a lot of multi-MNCs coming to Malaysia for investment.
35:12FDI is picking up,
35:14and our currency has been improving throughout the month.
35:18And,
35:19I would see,
35:20these coming months,
35:22and these coming years,
35:24Malaysia will,
35:26will,
35:27will,
35:28will,
35:29will do better.
35:30better.
35:31And,
35:32you'll see a lot of surprises to come.
35:34And,
35:35after,
35:36the,
35:37ASEAN plus,
35:38GCC summit that we had,
35:40trust me,
35:42Malaysia would not be the same,
35:45as it was,
35:46before,
35:47November,
35:482022.
35:49Nice.
35:50Yeah.
35:51Trust me.
35:52Yeah.
35:53I would bet on that.
35:55Alright sir,
35:56that is great.
35:57Thank you so much for answering questions,
35:59because,
36:00I thank you for,
36:01for,
36:02I mean,
36:03for imposing all those questions on me.
36:04Because,
36:05because,
36:06these are the questions we go through,
36:07whenever I go live,
36:08you know,
36:09people will be questioning,
36:10we,
36:11we cannot answer.
36:12I have to talk with someone like you,
36:13experienced person.
36:14You know,
36:15sometimes,
36:16when I go by Grab also,
36:17when they know I'm a reporter,
36:19they will ask,
36:20how is this going?
36:21I cannot answer.
36:22Wow.
36:23The Grab driver is asking the,
36:24the journalist,
36:25the reporter.
36:26Normally,
36:27only you asking us.
36:28Because,
36:29we are like,
36:30on the ground.
36:31So,
36:32when they know,
36:33they're asking,
36:34okay,
36:35how is this,
36:36how is this going on?
36:37So,
36:38I can only answer when I get,
36:39point of view from you.
36:40So,
36:41I hope after this,
36:42and they are the voice of the ground.
36:43Yes.
36:44They are the voice of the ground.
36:45And I think you would get,
36:46more answers from them,
36:47than from people like me.
36:48That is why,
36:49most of the questions were pointed to you.
36:52Thank you,
36:53so,
36:54we hope as a reporter,
36:55we can deliver,
36:56what's the good thing.
36:57And from yours,
36:58definitely,
36:59that's a lot.
37:01Thank you so much for today.
37:02Thank you for joining,
37:03and see you next episode.
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