Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) political science lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said he viewed with interest what he claimed were "DAP attacks" against Education Minister Maszlee Malik (above).

He also expressed surprise that few are willing to defend Maszlee.

He said this in reference to DAP central executive committee member Teng Chang Khim who called Maszlee "foolish" and "an idiot" as well as another central executive committee member P Ramasamy likening Maszlee to Umno.

"With the intensified rhetoric of attacks by DAP leaders, it can be expected that there would be a more aggressive action to threaten Maszlee's position," he said in a Facebook statement.

He noted that this was not the first time DAP leaders had gone after Maszlee.

He said Ipoh Timur MP Wong Kah Woh and Bercham assemblyperson Ong Boon Piow had last year attacked Maszlee over funding to Chinese independent schools while Bukit Assek assemblyperson Irene Mary Chang and Sarawak DAP Youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa had criticised him over proselytisation activities in East Malaysia.

He added that two petitions have also been initiated to call for Maszlee's sacking.

"It is quite surprising that many have not realised the theme of these attacks when hardly anyone dared to defend Maszlee.

"Whatever differences we have, it would be better if we defend him from becoming a victim of greed, just like how they have united," he said.

Maszlee had recently come under criticism for defending the matriculation quota.

He also acknowledged that the bumiputera quota had been abused in the past and promise to prevent further abuses.

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