Yayasan Mahir Hopes Government Will Increase PTPK Fund In Budget 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Mahir Malaysia hopes the government will increase the allocation for the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) loan scheme in the 2026 Budget, which is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

Its president Datuk P. Sri Ganes said the additional allocation was crucial to ensure that the target of achieving a 35 per cent skilled workforce by 2030 can be realised.

“The RM500 million allocation announced previously was fully distributed as early as last August, indicating that the existing funds are insufficient to meet current demand,” he said in a statement today.

He emphasised that the Ministry of Finance should consider providing additional funds, as this would directly support the continued development of a highly skilled workforce in line with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

At the same time, Sri Ganes described PTPK’s move to review its loan criteria as a reflection of the government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) governance and ensuring that every additional allocation is managed prudently.

“The new approach, which prioritises high-impact programmes, star ratings and repayment performance, demonstrates TVET’s readiness to receive larger allocations,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that PTPK funding had been discontinued, explaining that the government was in fact encouraging private TVET institutions to enhance their competitiveness and offer high-impact programmes that meet industry needs.

-- BERNAMA