Maszlee's teary tribute to ustaz who told him to be education minister at 15
Maszlee Malik was in tears as he recalled how his religious teacher Sukijan Muri had told him to become the education minister to make Malaysia better.
This message, he said, was impressed upon him when he was a 15-year-old student in Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor Bahru.
Sukijan, who was also present, could not hold back his tears when Maszlee paid tribute to him in his speech at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Serdang this afternoon...
Maszlee Malik was in tears as he recalled how his religious teacher Sukijan Muri had told him to become the education minister to make Malaysia better.
This message, he said, was impressed upon him when he was a 15-year-old student in Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor Bahru.
Sukijan, who was also present, could not hold back his tears when Maszlee paid tribute to him in his speech at Universiti Putra Malaysia in Serdang this afternoon.
“On this historic day, I wish to take the opportunity to convey my utmost gratitude to my teacher.
“Without you, I would not be here,” he said.
At this point, Sukijan stood up and wiped his tears. He later told reporters that he is delighted with Maszlee's achievements.
The religious teacher said although his former student is now a minister, he continues to provide advice to him.
“I follow his development and continue to reprimand him even when he is a minister,” he added.
In his speech earlier, Maszlee said Sukijan had managed to become a teacher even though he started his studies at the age of 18.
“We live with dreams. Dreams are the reason we wake in the morning and continue with life.
“I believe its dreams which led to him (Sukijan) who never went to school to mould someone with ambitions.
“It is this dream which made me courageous enough to want to change the things which I was dissatisfied with.
“This made me join politics and become a minister,” he added, pausing several times to compose himself.
It is all good and fine that Black Shoe had a vision of becoming an Education Minister. What is important now is for Maszlee to realise is he is the Education Minister for ALL Malaysians. Education is more about gaining knowledge and skills needed to become useful citizens on earth. Therefor,doing a U-Turn on UEC is not only unwise but also a broken promise from this Harapan.minister. Malaysia needs more employable graduates able to compete with the world's best in science and technology, not just more Islamic scholars. We need real change ,more than merely changing the colour of our shoes to transform an outmoded education system that has been holding Malaysians back for over half a century. Malaysians have yet to see this vision much less this change!