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PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured university students and higher education institutions that they will receive attention in Budget 2027, as the government weighs competing demands from across the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said higher education would be among the areas considered in the Budget, which is being finalised ahead of its tabling in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 9.
“God willing, university students and universities will certainly also be included (in the Budget). Hopefully, I will be able to deliver what I can within the limitations,” he said in his speech at the Tokoh Siswa Negara Awards ceremony in Putrajaya on Thursday.
Anwar said the Budget process involved considering requests from thousands of associations, hundreds of government departments and dozens of ministries, covering sectors ranging from agriculture and fisheries to technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Everything is reasonable and rational. From the paddy fields in Kedah, fishermen in Terengganu, the Orang Asli, Iban longhouses in Sarawak, technology and AI, all are demanding attention,” he said.
He said the demands had prompted him to cancel almost all events scheduled for the week as he focused on finalising the Budget.
“I cancelled all the events, but I decided to proceed with tonight's event. For the university students, I felt that I wanted to attend,” he said.
Budget 2027 will be the fifth Madani Budget and the second Budget under the 13th Malaysia Plan, with the government continuing to pursue the Madani Economy's three pillars of Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor and Driving Governance Reform. - October 2, 2026
