The Higher Education Ministry’s RM800 million allocation for campus upgrades under Budget 2027 reflects the government’s commitment to student welfare, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
LUMUT: The allocation for the Higher Education Ministry under Budget 2027 reflects the government’s continued commitment to prioritising the welfare and comfort of students at higher education institutions (HEIs).
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said RM800 million of the RM19.1 billion allocated to the ministry would be used to upgrade infrastructure at public universities.
“The allocation has increased by 2.7 per cent compared with the previous year. It will be used specifically for repairs and upgrading works involving faculty buildings and student accommodation nationwide,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Targeted Higher Education Assistance Programme at Dewan Mohd Anwar, TVETMARA, here today.
When Budget 2027 was tabled last Friday, the ministry received an allocation of RM19.1 billion, an increase of RM500 million from RM18.6 billion this year.
Of the total, RM15.13 billion was allocated for operating expenditure, while RM3.96 billion was set aside for development expenditure.
The allocation will be used to strengthen higher education infrastructure, improve the quality of education, enhance research and innovation, and safeguard student welfare.
To upgrade campus facilities, the government has provided RM800 million to repair dilapidated infrastructure at public higher education institutions, including lecture halls, student accommodation and learning equipment.
Meanwhile, Zambry said the proposed One Higher Education Act (OHEA), which would replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), aimed to harmonise provisions that currently differ between universities and remove various restrictions faced by students.
He said the ministry was examining the proposed legislation from all angles before announcing its implementation in the near future.
“The OHEA process will take some time, but our main focus is to ensure that provisions which restrict students and impose various constraints on them are removed.
“This will allow students to enjoy greater freedom, in line with the aspirations for higher education reform in the country, particularly in terms of freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and expressing views on campus,” he said.
