Former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has criticised Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, saying she has failed to demonstrate effective leadership in both daily operations and long-term education reform.
Speaking on his podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri (YBM), Rafizi said the Education Ministry, one of the country’s largest and most complex departments, requires a leader capable of managing operational challenges while setting a clear strategic direction for the future.
He said operational issues such as school bullying, inadequate infrastructure and conflicts involving teachers and students require immediate and systematic handling, but continue to surface. At the same time, Rafizi said the ministry has yet to show convincing progress on long-term reforms, including the quality of STEM education, teacher training, examination performance and Malaysia’s standing at the regional and international levels.
“There is no clear direction or benchmark,” he said.
Rafizi noted that major ministries have traditionally been led by experienced figures due to the need to balance detailed management with long-term planning. He revealed that he had previously proposed UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for the education portfolio due to his administrative experience, though the proposal was declined.
He also cautioned against equating visibility with performance, saying frequent school visits, refurbishment works and photo opportunities should not be mistaken for meaningful reform.
“The key issue is the long-term trajectory of education reform,” he said, adding that the absence of a clear roadmap has raised concern among policy observers, especially amid recurring incidents such as school violence.
Rafizi said a minister should first establish systems and processes to stabilise daily operations, allowing focus to shift to long-term reforms. Instead, he claimed, the current approach places emphasis on social media exposure and symbolic gestures.
He further said Fadhlina lacks experience in managing large organisations, describing this as a contributing factor to ongoing problems within the ministry.
Without systemic intervention, Rafizi said, issues continue to emerge, forcing the ministry into constant crisis management. He added that school bullying has been raised multiple times at the cabinet level, and the lack of clear updates from the ministry is itself a concern.
Rafizi concluded that while no minister can satisfy all parties, public confidence will inevitably erode when both operational management and long-term reform fall short.
