KUALA LUMPUR: Upskilling and reskilling will remain key focuses of Budget 2027 to equip Malaysians with the skills needed to secure better-paying jobs, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said the Budget, which will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow, was expected to address the needs of all segments of society, including students, housewives, Malaysians working abroad and persons with disabilities.
“I think we should let the Prime Minister announce the Budget tomorrow.
“But the focus is very important. I believe the Budget will have something for all layers of society. It is going to cover the entire segment of society,” he told reporters after officiating MyBakat 2026 Week by TalentCorp here today.
Ramanan said the government needed sufficient resources to expand training, upskilling and reskilling programmes, adding that funding had already been provided under the previous Budget.
“For us, the main focus is skills. We have to be given the space to train, upskill and reskill. We had funding in last year’s Budget, but we need more.
“Upskilling and reskilling are the most important priorities at the moment, along with giving them the opportunity to secure better jobs,” he said.
Ramanan also stressed the need to ensure Malaysians benefit from jobs created through increased foreign investment in the country.
He said employers should first consider qualified Malaysians before turning to foreign workers to fill available positions.
“As I have mentioned many times before, whatever job is going to be given to somebody who is not a Malaysian citizen must first be rejected by a qualified Malaysian citizen,” he said.
