More than half of Malaysians polled picked Nurul Izzah Anwar ahead of former international trade minister Mustapa Mohamed to be the next education minister.
According to an online poll by The Malaysian Insight, 52.2%, or 775 respondents, preferred that the 39-year-old Permatang Pauh MP take over from Maszlee Malik, who resigned yesterday.
Nurul, a three-term MP in Lembah Pantai and Permatang Pauh, is currently a member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and headed the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) task force after the 2018 general election.
The poll, which ran yesterday, found Mustapa in a distant second with 12.7%, or 188 votes, of respondents favouring him.
Mustapa, who joined Bersatu in 2018, is a veteran minister, having headed the International Trade and Industry Ministry (2009-2018), Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (2008-2009) and Higher Education Ministry (2006-2008).
Prior to that, Mustapa also served as second finance minister (1998-1999) and entrepreneur development minister (1995-1999).
The 69-year-old currently heads Parliament’s select committee on Budget.
Coming in third was Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who garnered 6.5% (96 votes) of the vote.
The poll also had National Higher Education Fund Corporation chairman and former IDEAS CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan (Bersatu) in fourth place with 2.8% (42).
Bersatu deputy president and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir placed fifth with 2.3% or 34 votes.
A total of 1,486 respondents took part in the overnight poll by The Malaysian Insight. – TMI