Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim calls for accelerated new course approvals in universities and TVET institutions to prevent Malaysia from lagging in high-tech fields.
PENGERANG: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on educational institutions to accelerate the introduction of new courses and disciplines to produce more skilled local experts.
He stated this is essential to ensure the country does not fall behind in development, particularly in high-technology fields, citing that universities currently take too long to approve new programmes.
“A delay of up to two years to introduce new disciplines can cause the country to lag behind, especially in information technology and digital fields that are evolving rapidly,” he said when speaking at the launch of the Pengerang Vocational College project.
Anwar emphasised that Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions must also be strengthened with new fields aligned with evolving industry needs.
“TVET must be elevated to the highest level,” he said, adding that the younger generation must master new skills to reduce reliance on foreign labour in critical sectors.
The Prime Minister also announced that the government has approved an allocation of RM100 million for the construction of the Pengerang Vocational College project.
He described the college as a strategic move in line with Pengerang’s position as the nation’s oil and gas industry hub, stressing that the project should be expedited on a fixed schedule.
The project is expected to be completed in 2030 and will be implemented in two phases covering new construction, refurbishment, and equipment procurement.
With a maximum capacity of 360 students, the college will offer courses supporting the national oil and gas industry ecosystem, including Welding Technology, Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Automotive Technology, and Information Technology specialising in Cybersecurity Systems.