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By Mihar Dias August 2025
The Madani government has a new slogan: “Reformasi is not a makeup kit.” But judging from the Education Ministry, you’d think Sephora was running Putrajaya.
Enter YB Fadlina Sidek, our Education Minister — young, pleasant, educated, and, according to critics, about as prepared for her portfolio as a TikTok influencer teaching quantum physics. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SQYTSuce/
She was plucked from PKR’s nursery, fast-tracked to the top, and handed the keys to Malaysia’s entire education system. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SQYTSuce/
Why? Well, apparently being “the daughter of a good friend of PMX” is now a qualification stronger than a PhD.
Of course, education isn’t about building curriculums, grooming teachers, or producing thinkers.
No, it’s about sitting cross-legged with schoolkids for photo ops and delivering shaky speeches with dramatic pauses. Reformasi, but make it Instagrammable.
“PMX lantik seorang wanita muda yang sangat baik, hebat. NAMUN, masih belum masak. Menteri pendidikan bukan orang yang boleh bersila makan dan dengar ceramah dengan murid sahaja. Lebih Dari itu.” So sats Awi Awi on his Facebook post. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SQYTSuce/
The irony is delicious: in a nation full of professors and policy veterans, we got a minister still figuring out the difference between ministry staff and personal cheerleaders. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SQYTSuce/
Critics suggest two solutions: hire a world-class PR team to puppet her every word, or have her resign. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SQYTSuce/
But let’s be honest — resignations in Malaysia are rarer than punctual trains. Here, trains don't run on time and ministers are not likely to quit as expected.
So the nation soldiers on. Students struggle, teachers sigh, parents grumble. However, somewhere in Putrajaya, someone.is still trying to convince us this is reform. This is the Reformasi we were promised by our Dear Leader at the barricades a long time ago.
Sorry folks — this isn’t reform. It’s a makeover.
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