Maszlee Malik

Maszlee Malik is a Malaysian academic and Malaysia’s former Minister of Education who has shaped national debates on education reform, governance and the nation’s role in a shifting global order.

He served as Minister of Education from 2018 to 2020 and as Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam until 2022. During his ministerial tenure, he led a series of structural reforms aimed at moving the system away from rote, exam-driven learning towards a more student-centred model. He expanded technical and vocational pathways, pushed for the integration of STEM, AI and data-driven decision-making in schools, and oversaw the nationwide adoption of Google Classroom. An early move that proved critical during the COVID-19 disruption. Malik also amended restrictive legislation to restore greater freedom of expression in universities.

Maszlee Malik’s policy agenda focused strongly on access and inclusion. He introduced the Zero Reject Policy, opening the national education system to stateless children, and expanded access to fully funded boarding schools for thousands of students from low-income backgrounds. These reforms positioned education not only as a national priority, but as a tool for social mobility and cohesion.

Before entering politics, Malik spent nearly two decades as an academic at the International Islamic University Malaysia, focusing on education, Islamic jurisprudence and governance. He holds a doctorate in Good Governance from Durham University and has authored over 50 books and close to 100 academic articles. He currently serves as Chairman of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia and is a Professor at the University of Cyberjaya.

Beyond education policy, Maszlee Malik is an active voice on international affairs, particularly on Malaysia’s role in a multipolar world. His work and public commentary emphasise ethical governance, strategic autonomy and the country’s position as a bridge between Southeast Asia, the Islamic world and the Global South.