WHEN Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik took the oath as Education Minister on May 21,2018, he knew he had big shoes to fill. His political mentor – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – who he often quotes in speeches, had wanted to take on the portfolio but later let go of it as the Pakatan Harapan manifesto had stated that the Prime Minister should not hold any other ministerial posts.

Less than two years on – and barely two weeks after he presented the ministry’s report card on Dec 13, the political newcomer who joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on March 12,2018 has resigned.

Maszlee, who is a former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer, had been dogged by controversies almost from the get-go.

He did not budge when student groups protested his appointment in September 2018 as IIUM president.

These activists were unhappy as they felt that it went against a Pakatan promise not to have politicians heading academic institutions.

He eventually announced his resignation from the post in January last year.

This delay in stepping down as IIUM president did not help his cause. And many of his policies as Education Minister did not endear him to the public.

There was an outcry especially from the B40 group over his 2018 announcement that students must wear black shoes instead of white ones in the school term the following year.

These parents were unhappy as it meant that they would have to buy new shoes. Others were annoyed because they felt that there were other more pressing issues that an Education Minister should be looking into. Eventually, the ministry announced that the ruling would be enforced only from 2021.

Maszlee has regularly topped social media polls of the least popular ministers. Often, he had to dispel talk that he was being replaced.

Many people – even those who weren’t parents themselves – had lost all patience with him.

From his suggestion that hotels allow schools to use their swimming pools to promote water safety among children and the inclusion of 1MDB in history textbooks, to his comments linking the matriculation quota system with unequal job opportunities for bumiputra in the private sector, made him fodder for jokes.

There was also chatter that he “supported” controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

Then there were his comments that religious teachers should make Sabah and Sarawak their “medan dakwah” (proselytisation field) and the ministry’s plans to make silat a co-curricular activity in the schools, as well as an elective credit course in universities. These were seen as measures that had nothing to do with his portfolio.

But it was his announcement that Jawi calligraphy would be taught in vernacular schools and the ministry’s delay in making a decision on the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) that created an uproar too loud to ignore.

Malaysia performed better in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) but the country is still below the global average score. His critics attributed this to his misplaced priorities.

Despite his report card highlighting the ministry’s achievements of the 12 months and how it had carried out 53 initiatives to improve the country’s education, there has been no end to the lightning rod issues surrounding him.

And Maszlee grew more defensive, often dodging questions from the media and rushing off with reporters hot on his heels.

Well, he can finally stop running now.