MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong has marvelled at Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's political mastery in dealing with the issue of him taking up the education portfolio.

He said Mahathir's alleged manoeuvering had made him seem open to criticism, while at the same time making PKR de facto Anwar Ibrahim and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang feel bad, and keeping the ministry for his party Bersatu.

Mahathir had on Thursday said that he would be taking up the Education Ministry portfolio.

However, it was then pointed out that this contravened the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, which clearly states that the prime minister would not assume other roles, especially the finance portfolio.

Anwar and Lim, however, said that it was not against the manifesto for Mahathir to be education minister.

Despite this, Mahathir dropped the post citing the breach, and later appointed Bersatu Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik (photo) as education minister instead.

"This indirectly meant that Anwar and Lim's arguments were wrong and these two veterans were now left feeling conflicted.

"At the end, Mahathir achieved his wish to appoint a Bersatu MP as education minister by 'booking' the seat for Bersatu.

"Meanwhile, from the people's perspective, Mahathir appears to be a leader that listens to their voices and is ready to make a change when necessary.

"Mahathir's political manoeuvering has paid off and other (Harapan) component parties have remained quiet because the power to appoint ministers is the prime minister's prerogative," Wee said in a statement today.

Mahathir's first batch of 13 cabinet ministers will be sworn in on Monday.