But because the Pakatan Harapan manifesto stipulated that the prime minister could not hold two portfolios, the Simpang Renggam MP got the post.

“Dr Mahathir called me and told me to continue his aspirations in the education sector,” he said at a forum here today.

After the general election in May, Mahathir had initially announced that he would head the education ministry but he dropped the portfolio a day later following criticisms from some PH leaders who said it violated the promise by the coalition.

The ruling coalition’s manifesto states, among others, that the prime minister “will not simultaneously hold other ministerial posts, especially the post of minister of finance”.

Maszlee said that Mahathir, who was the education minister from 1974 to 1978, always wanted to use education as a way for the country to develop like Japan.

“He has been consistent. He reminds me to instil good values and integrity in the schoolchildren.”

On a related matter, Maszlee said that civics and citizenship education (CCE) would be re-introduced in the middle of next year. CCE was discontinued four years ago.

He said his ministry was collating various suggestions for subjects on integrity and anti-corruption to be included in the syllabus.