Dr M made the announcement via a video published on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Facebook page. — Bernama pic

PETALING JAYA, May 18 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has let go of the education portfolio today, in order to honour the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto.

“That is the position of the manifesto and I cannot break it at the moment although there is a demand that I should take education,” he said in a video published on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Facebook page.

Mahathir dropped the education minister post following complaints from the public.

PPBM’s first-term Simpang Renggam MP and former academic Maszlee Malik was named education minister in a new list released after Dr Mahathir’s video.

The PH manifesto, however, does not impose the same restriction on the deputy prime minister.

Currently, the women’s affairs portfolio is with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Dr Mahathir then explained that it was common practice when he was the prime minister under Barisan Nasional that the nation’s top two government officials would alternate between holding the defence and home affairs portfolio.

Currently, Parti Amanah Negara President Mohamad Sabu is the defence minister and PPBM President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the home minister.