Overwhelming response from Netcitizens wanting Rafidah Aziz as Minister of Education

By Stephen Ng

Former Minister of Trade and Industries, Rafidah Aziz was on holiday overseas when I posted a simple question on several chat groups.

The question was simple, but it was intended to convince the Iron Lady to consider coming back to serve the nation.

Hence, my question to the the chat groups was just this: "Do you all support Rafidah Aziz as education minister? Please comment and I will forward to her your comments."

Within just a span of a couple of hours, the response was overwhelming. There were at least 50 comments flowing in from the few chat groups, all which I managed to forward to the former cabinet minister.

I have no ulterior motive, but it is obvious that I am not the only who think Rafidah is a more capable lady to run the Ministry of Education.

I reproduce the comments here:
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"I agree totally. Our main problem is our education system is so damaged it will take a long time to overhaul to repair. I feel Maszlee Malik is not well equipped to handle this task. It overwhelms him, hence he is circumventing this issue by making all kinds of statements."

"Obviously, he is not of the right calibre!"

"He is obsessed trying to Arabized our Nation 😅
Stop trying to be like Arabs, Ruler advises Malays
 http://ow.ly/vhPK30n3juL"

"This morning 988📻FM hosts mention Mazlee's education was black 👟🧦 nothing else because there aren't much to talk about actually"

"This morning, BFM Radio 89.9 DJ mentioned Mazlee said master 4 languages including learn Arab language!
Where are the resources and teachers to teach?
Listener mentioned extra language should be up to students to learn in their own timing and that Mazlee should not interfere.

"He tried to parrot Rafidah who merely said during her time, they could even learn French but today it is no longer in our vocabulary."

"Support 100%"

"Ok!"

"I heard Rafidah Aziz on BFM Radio and found her to be very direct, truthful and fair. Will recommend her as Education Minister."

"Hope she could do good in the entire education system. Overhaul it."

"Good choice ..she is very fair person"

"Support 100% for Rafidah as Education Minister. She will be much more effective due to her vast experiences."

"Definitely! 1000% yes!!"

"No... we need someone who really know abt what is happening to our education system.... if non-malay will be better for a change."

"YB Lim Kit Siang is most fitting to be Education Minister if there is no quota system or race consideration in PH led by TDM."

"👍🏾100%"

"Support 100%"

"I support 🙋‍♀"

"Yes I fully support Rafidah Aziz as education minister as she is well educated, matured, experienced and has ability to articulate with precision. She speaks with no fear nor favour which lacks in most of the new ministers. Truly enjoy listening to her speeches. She will have guts to formulate much needed new policies and strategies to help revamp our educational system. I trust she will be an able leader to bring about change without fearing retaliations."

"Yes, she was in school when our education standard was at its prime, recognized as amongst the best in Asia. She has a vision of how a good education system should be like."

"I too support Rafidah Aziz to be Education Minister."

"I personally think that Rafidah is a much better choice than the present one, with due respect to his credentials.
Reasons:
1. She’s a veteran and has a track record in the Cabinet,
2. Her background as an Econs lecturer
3. Her mettle of determination, her outspokenness without fear (for power) or favor (self-interest); so far unmatched
4. Most importantly, she got on very well with TM, whom she looked upon as mentor and who had shared his ideas and dreams for revamping the educational system of Malaysia.
5. There’re too many green horns in the Cabinet now. We need one like her who’s experienced, matured and not too old.
Why do you think TM shared his ideas with her alone?
In fact I was a bit disappointed when she’s not serving the new Govt when the list was finalized."

"I hear that she does not want to work anymore. If she’s willing, Yes!"

"👆this is from an 80 plus year old reverend"

"She was the best n reliable minister during my time in Matrade. Agreed with u guys."

"Yes 100% support"

"101%"

"This is ample proof Rafidah will do.but she must remain firm in what she says without bending backwards to support any other Agenda  with the Best Educationists to assist make all the changes necessary. to put our System. back on a track of excellence. Yes Yes Yes. Rafidah."

"I think she has seen enough of dirty politics over the years. She is a bright lady that has seen how the world has evolved when she was the Trade Minister.
She also understand the low quality of graduates we she today that are not employable.
She would make a good Minister of Education that will keep religion away from the importance of science & technology in our educational system for M'sia to have a future in the global market."

"* ... low quality of graduates we see today ..."

"She has a sharp mind and does not succumb to agenda that is biased towards one race. She does not mince her words and she will call a spade , a spade. Perhaps she will be more open minded abt curriculum changes in Educational institutions and will encourage bilingualism, which is good for M'sia."

"Yes, we also want our education system to be able to compete in the international arena, not sweat the small stuff... 🤞🏻🤞🏻"

"Of black shoes, and swimming pools,
hidden agenda and religion in schools,
Our Education Minister think Rakyat are fools!"

"Hands down, majority are for Rafidah. Ours and her call to make it a reality. This is New Malaysia and rakyat's views must be taken into consideration before things get worse."

"Thanks Stephen. In my 18 years of service with d govt, I think I know her fairly well. My liking for her dates back to 1972 when I was studying at UM and she participated in an annual event held by d Economics n Administration faculty, The Great Economic Debate. Easily outshone the other speakers/ debators.
May be blunt at times but she had d facts."

"I agree too, she is capable."

"Rafidah 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏"

"Tell her to look at TM, not to retire for the sake of all the people who love her 😊."

"Support support support 👏👏👏"

"Support fully. she should have been elected to the Seniors Council earlier."

"Yes, by all means she is qualified to be the Education Minister. Anytime better than the "Log". He is hopelessly hopeless. Do not ask him yo resign but the word is "sack" him."

"Fully support. She has the guts to challenge the establishment when they are found wanting!"

"Julian, fully support.. need strong leadership n skills.  She has it."

"I support Rafidah"

"Yes, I support her for any post. She has the experience, strength and capability👍"

"I agree too, she is capable."

"Agree👍👌"

"Better than Maszlee👍"

"I Agree Rafidah Aziz replaces Maszlee as Education minister👍👌"

"Fully agree as she is focussed and has the will to get things done. No pussy footing around issues"

"Maszlee ideas is obsolete or i guess he has no idea how to reform our education system."

"Yes, she is brave enough to push thru tough reforms. She is smart and can also work with Tun M. She has no ulterior motive."

"Yes please! We need someone with logical thinking...and focus purely on education needs, unbiased and separate from other unrelated issues.👍🏻 😉."

"Maszlee ideas is obsolete or i guess he has no idea how to reform our education system."

"When he opens his mouth only fumes comes out."

"Rafidah’s strength is in ability of her looking at things objectively. She’s both a politician n academic, speaks from her heart n brain, a no nonsense lady, fearless of critiques. If she’s willing to sacrifice n serve d country, why not? She gets my vote."

"Yes, 👍🏻agree 🙏🏻."

"Agree bro Nik👌👍."

"Yes fully support - we need strong leader 👍"

"We need stronger leader like Rafidah Aziz not a pussy like Maszlee🤭."

"Rafidah Aziz is fully capable of outperforming Maszlee. She had tons of experience to back her up. She had noted what the below par educational system had done to this country and always go for the jugular in the thick of things to change where it matters most."

"Make her a Senator, then appoint her as a Minister. She’ll deliver."

"Better still let her contest in a by election n win. That will add the seats of PH."

"🙋🏻‍♀ my vote, too."

"She is definitely better person in to execute the education portfolio than Mazlee."

"supportsupport"

"We need her now, dont waste another minute bcos education portfolio is very important. Nurturing future generation, future leaders."

"👌🏻"

"As long as not Mazlee!
Lost hope on him and do not like his comment in Sarawak!
I heard Rafidah on BFM Radio!
Very direct person, confident herself and say the truth!
Consider her to be quite a fair person!"

"Is a sheer waste of time doing this survey because Mahathir in his crazy political arena he must have some calculation, he wants someone like Mazlee occasionally making mentioned on matters related to Islam, in order to tickle some groups of people where can never reached by non-Malay (devout) Muslims."

"Disagree, not waste of time. No harm trying, this is Malaysia Baru. U got nothing to loose. Tun M will find alternatives, he is smart enough dont u worry for him."

"Yes, his term will end soon and if nothing is done the next PM might screw up too."

"Within just the last 30 min, so many comments have been made . I just did a simple survey and mind you, I do not know most of the people in the chat groups."

"Our education portfolio is in mess ! Whoever take up this ministry must have at least 30 or more years of experience in education works."

"Yes....Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz is the Best Person to be our Minister."

"Yes... Tun should remove him from the cabinet."

"Fantastic idea."

"I do not see him being visionary and seeing the big picture by making critical education policies, improving the syllabus, recognition of UEC, driving wholesome sex education and improving racial harmony through education. Not a visionary thinker with a strong paradigm shift and lateral thinking.    Constant is change and change is constant. Rafidah is a better fit!"

"From frying pan into the Fire. we have deviated from main stream Education into almost Rot. how Arabic is going to help I need a Messiah to convince me. black shoes nxt what I cannot guess I need to calm my nerves with a 24 hr ice cap on my head. its time for TMM to act fast to save our poor kids. God please help us all please."

"Agree Education minister must be unbiased must leave religion race aside. 👍👌"

"...she is a very strong and dynamic lady !!"

"I support Rafidah Aziz as Education Minister. I find her to be a no fear or favour kind of person and I believe she is capable to Revamp the education-system given a chance."
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So, Tan Sri, I trust you will enjoy a good holiday because after this, you should be working hard.

If Tun M can still work at 93 years old, there is no reason why you should be allowed to retire when the country's education system is in shambles, and the current minister has no clue on how to handle the portfolio given to him.

As the famous saying goes, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

END.