PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last night announced the appointment of Datuk Khir Mohd Yusof as the new director-general of education, succeeding Tan Sri Abdul Ghaffar Mahmud.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the 57-year-old Khir, who is formerly deputy director-general of education (teaching profession development sector), came to his office yesterday to report for duty and pledged to discharge his responsibilities to the best of his ability in a bid to make transformation on national education.

“We have discussed various issues, including for him to follow the good path of Abdul Ghaffar because I think there shouldn’t be any major changes following the latter’s retirement.

“What’s good, we will continue to make it better, and what’s already better will be further improved to make it best,” he said at the retirement dinner to honour Abdul Ghaffar’s 36 years of service.

Abd Ghafar served as the director-general of Education from November 8, 2010 until December 6, 2013.

Muhyiddin said the government would always appreciate the deeds and contributions made by Abdul Ghaffar in implementing the national education policy.

“His credibility was proved by his success in leading and putting the ministry among the ministries which succeeded in achieving the objectives of the national key result areas,” the deputy prime minister said.

As an appreciation of his contribution, Muhyiddin said the government had also agreed to nominate Abd Ghafar as a board member of the International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP) under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

At the dinner, Muhyiddin also witnessed the symbolic handing-over of duties ceremony between Abdul Ghaffar and Khir.

Also present were Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, deputy ministers Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and P. Kamalanathan, secretary-general Datuk Madinah Mohamad. — Bernama