The government has approved the use of up to RM50 million from the High-Impact Programme fund under the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) to strengthen the implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) 2.0, in a move aimed at accelerating Malaysia’s shift towards high-skilled, future-ready talent.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, said the allocation will be subject to conditions requiring close collaboration between employers, industry players and the government to ensure effective delivery of the national skills agenda.
Anwar highlighted that the initiative reflects the urgency of aligning Malaysia’s workforce development with emerging global technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency and the energy transition.
He stressed that TVET 2.0 represents a structural upgrade of the national technical and vocational education framework, with a stronger focus on high-technology fields to meet evolving industry demands.
“We are aware of new technological changes, including AI, crypto and the energy transition. These demand new areas of expertise that were not imaginable 20 to 30 years ago,” he said.
He added that private sector participation, including multinational corporations and government-linked companies, is critical in providing specialised training and ensuring graduates are industry-ready.
Anwar also emphasised that technical training must be balanced with values and ethics, warning against overemphasis on skills at the expense of integrity and responsibility.
“Sometimes, in our enthusiasm for skills development, we must not neglect the fundamental values of humanity,” he said.
Under Budget 2026, PTPK has been allocated RM650 million, with TVET 2.0 positioned as a key national strategy to elevate vocational education from a secondary pathway to a core driver of Malaysia’s high-income economy agenda.
