MELAKA, June 12 — The government is mulling over a proposal to establish a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Commission, in line with the TVET reform agenda.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is because the development of TVET under the National TVET Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has been encouraging, including an increase in the number of students.
“I appreciate the role of the TVET Council, but as those closely monitoring the sector’s development, we must consider proposals such as establishing a dedicated commission for TVET, and we will assess this as swiftly as possible in response to the sector’s evolving needs.
“With the number of students and types of training increasing, I, along with the Finance Ministry, will look into whether current facilities are adequate and how to create synergy between government-linked companies, private sector players, and existing TVET institutions.”
Anwar said this when opening the National TVET Day 2025 celebration at the Melaka International Trade Centre, Ayer Keroh, here today.
In his speech, Anwar emphasised the importance of TVET in producing a skilled and quality workforce that meets future industry needs.
He said he believes TVET graduates deserve a better starting salary, reflecting their skills and strong employability.
“Previously, we set the minimum wage at RM1,700, but if a group like TVET graduates achieves up to 98 per cent employability, RM1,700 is not enough. For TVET graduates, if possible, we want to raise the starting salary to as much as RM3,000,” he said.
Anwar also highlighted that this adjustment is vital to ensure the expertise of TVET graduates is valued and accepted by multinational and local companies alike.
During the event, he announced an additional allocation of RM40 million for the National TVET Council and RM10 million for Melaka to focus on TVET entrepreneurship development.
Present at the event were Zahid, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
The National TVET Day 2025 celebration, themed “TVET: The Choice Career”, featured nine exhibition sectors — transportation and automotive; aerospace; electronics and digital; advanced manufacturing; energy; rail and maritime; plantation, agriculture, and livestock; construction; and services.
The three-day event, which began yesterday, offers 5,000 jobs across various fields from over 60 companies and employers.
Twelve ministries were involved in organising the event, including the Higher Education Ministry, Education Ministry, Rural Development Ministry, Youth and Sports Ministry, Human Resources Ministry, and Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.
Celebrated annually on June 2, National TVET Day underscores the government’s commitment to making TVET a key platform for nurturing a dynamic, skilled, and competitive future workforce.
Coinciding with the event, the 4th Regional Policy Dialogue of the Asean TVET Council was held.
— Bernama
