Rafizi has the ability to be the 'Father of Education Reform'
SHAH ALAM - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Deputy President Rafizi Ramli is seen as the best individual to take the role of Finance or Economic Affairs Minister while a party leader also thinks that the Pandan MP is much more suited to hold the position of Education Minister.
Malaysian Justice Generation Organisation chairman Yusmadi Yusoff said the proposed appointment of Rafizi to the position of a senior minister was appropriate because he was an education icon with a background of being a successful country boy from a low-income family.
The former Balik Pulau MP explained Rafizi has the great ability to transform the country's education field to a higher level, moreover, the portfolio was expected to be a determinant for the success of the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in addition to the economic field.
"I think Rafizi is suited to become the Education Minister. He had many ideas to transform the country's education sector which is currently facing various problems including the issue of a generation of students dropping out following two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"As a successful country boy, he understands the needs of rural children who want to succeed in the field of education.
“Rafizi is the best candidate to take care of the challenging portfolio and I am confident that he was capable of becoming the Father of Education Reform one day," he told Sinar Premium on Thursday.
He said this when asked to comment on proposals that Rafizi would hold the portfolio of the Economic Affairs Ministry in the unity government that would be announced by Anwar as soon as possible.
Many parties had expected Anwar himself to assume the position of Finance Minister while being assisted by former finance II minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani in the new government's Cabinet formation list.
The Education Minister's position had big names such as Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Umno Wanita Chief Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said to be candidates, though strong speculation stated PH was considering the former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
Yusmadi commented further that he was confident Rafizi would be able to follow Anwar's footsteps by introducing various new policies in the national education sector to make it sustainable and competitive.
Coupled with being assisted by PKR Vice President Nurul Izzah Anwar who was vocal in fighting for the empowerment of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes and the former PKR youth chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Rafizi would be able to guarantee the implementation of an inclusive education syllabus for all races, Yusmadi said.
Umno Information Chief Isham Jalil viewed the unity government's Cabinet size should not be reduced to less than 25 portfolios.
He explained that this was due to the merge had too many ministries managed by one minister and it was feared to give too much discretionary power to the individuals concerned.
"The fact is the proposal to reduce the government Cabinet size was not just a matter of reducing the government expenditure and improving minister's efficiency.
"We must see from the aspect of not giving too much discretionary powers towards a minister in managing many ministries combined. I worry the check and balance practice in the government could not be done effectively," he stated.
