Gov't Allows Up To RM50 Mln From PTPK Fund For TVET 2.0 – PM Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, June 6 (Bernama) -- The government has agreed to allow 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, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the use of the fund is subject to conditions, namely that employers and industry players must work closely with the government to ensure the success of the TVET 2.0 agenda.

“I reiterate the decision to allow up to RM50 million from the High-Impact Programme fund under PTPK to be utilised for TVET 2.0.

“There are conditions. Employers and industry must cooperate with the government, particularly through the TVET Council, to make it a success so that there is proper coordination. This will also enhance training programmes and exposure opportunities,” he said when officiating the National TVET Day 2026 celebration here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Under the framework of Budget 2026, the total allocation for PTPK has been set at RM650 million.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid said that TVET 2.0 represents a restructuring of the TVET curriculum, with a focus on strengthening high-technology fields to meet the needs of future industries.

Elaborating further, Anwar said the implementation of TVET 2.0 is a wise decision as artificial intelligence (AI), cryptology and the energy transition have become key global priorities.

“We are aware of the new technological changes that have been mentioned, including AI, cryptology and the energy transition. All of these demand new areas of expertise that were beyond the imagination and reach of our generation 20 to 30 years ago.

“These are all new technologies, and if we remain confined within the cocoon of outdated thinking, we will not be able to drive the country’s economic growth,” he said.

He stressed that the success of TVET 2.0 requires strong support and commitment from the private sector, in addition to the involvement of government-linked companies (GLCs) and the implementation of the special TVET programmes that had been formulated earlier.

The Prime Minister said collaboration with various stakeholders, including the domestic private sector, multinational corporations (MNCs) and international companies, must be strengthened by encouraging their participation in providing specialised training for TVET students.

Meanwhile, Anwar reminded that skills development, including in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), must be balanced with the inculcation of values, ethics and humanity in order to produce well-rounded human capital.

He said educational and training institutions should not focus solely on the mastery of technical skills, but must also ensure that students are nurtured into disciplined individuals with integrity and a strong sense of responsibility towards society.

“This is something I want to emphasise because sometimes, in our busyness and enthusiasm to focus on skills development and competencies, we must not neglect the fundamental values of humanity,” he said.

National TVET Day is celebrated annually on June 2 to recognise the role of skills education as a driver of human capital development, while also serving as an important platform to strengthen the MADANI TVET agenda, which emphasises skills, innovation and graduate employability.

Under the Malaysia MADANI framework, TVET has now been elevated as a national agenda rather than merely a second-choice educational pathway, with the government committed to strengthening the sector through the offering of high-technology courses to meet the demands of global industrial investments.

-- BERNAMA