PUTRAJAYA: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has pledged to improve efforts in safeguarding the welfare of students and enhancing the performance of her ministry, amid recent calls for her resignation following several major school incidents.
Fadhlina said she views the calls for her resignation following several major school incidents in recent months as a challenge to do better in enhancing the delivery system of the ministry.
She said that upon being appointed to lead the ministry, her priority has been the welfare of students.
“I don’t see the calls for my resignation as a demand for me to step down. Rather, it feels like a call to ‘do better’,” she said.
She made these remarks during a meeting with senior editors of the media at her ministry’s office here today.
Present at the meeting were Berita Harian group editor Zulkifli Jalil, and Media Prima group editor of news and current affairs Azhari Muhidin.
Yesterday, a group of students, activists, and members of the public gathered at Parliament after marching from Taman Tugu, carrying a message demanding Fadhlina’s resignation as education minister.
The memorandum was handed to Fadhlina outside the Parliament gates.
Fadhlina noted that currently, there are calls for the resignation of two figures — the prime minister and herself.
Since taking office in 2022, she said she has faced and dealt with many challenges, but this does not mean she has shirked her responsibilities.
“I am not defensive; of course, there are many weaknesses. But our focus remains on improving and doing our best,” she said.
When asked about advice from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding recent developments in the ministry, Fadhlina said Anwar reminded her that he faced even greater challenges when he was education minister over 30 years ago.
She recalled that during Anwar‘s tenure, both he and the ministry were criticised following the leak of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam questions.
“I think the only advice the prime minister gave me was to be patient because he said his time was worse when he was education minister.
“He was heavily criticized, but he said, ‘we will do better.’
“So I say now, ‘we will do better,'” she added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
