Malaysia’s education minister, Fadhlina Sidek highlighted the fact the Level One curriculum for the school standards first to Third is developed to ensure students in mastering the basics of academics during the preparation for further learning.

Fadhlina stated, “The focus of the Level One curriculum is on the mastery of reading, writing, calculating and reasoning skills, basic information and technology skills, and creativity.”

She further mentioned that the primary level of Malaysian education harps on bolstering spiritual, social, emotional, mental, cognitive, physical, and moral development, which she believes has positioned Malaysia on par with other academically-revered nations.

Faldhina mentioned, “The implementation of subjects at Level One allows each child to build a foundation of good values, develop self-confidence and a positive attitude, and acquire basic knowledge and skills in preparation for further learning.”

Fadhlina Sidek is a lawyer and a politician who is the Minister of Education since December 2022 in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. She holds the position of Member of Parliament (MP) for Nibong Tebal region since November 2022 before serving as a Senator. Being the first female Minister of Education, Fadhlina is a member of the People’s Justice Party (PKR), a component party of the PH coalition. She has also served as the Women’s Chief of PKR since July 2022.

However, Fadhlina Sidek’s perspective on Malaysian local education is quite different from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman Muar MP. Mr. Sayed raised the issue of Malaysian secondary school students lagging the international standards in academic competence by a few years.