KOTA SAMARAHAN: Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn hopes the federal government will allocate a fair share of the RM7.9 billion set aside for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to Sarawak.
He said this would ensure that Sarawak’s technical and vocational training institutions continue to produce a skilled workforce to meet the needs of local industries.
“I hope the ministry in charge will give Sarawak a fair share of the funds,” he told reporters when met after officiating at the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre and Sarawak Science Centre Open Day at the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, here today.
Sagah welcomed the emphasis given by the federal government on TVET in the federal 2026 Budget, describing it as a positive step towards strengthening the nation’s pool of technical talent.
“We need a lot of technical people, not just those who are academically inclined, but TVET graduates who can serve the industries.”
On the proposed TVET Bill (Rang Undang-Undang TVET), Sagah said it was still too early to comment as more details of the legislation have yet to be seen.
He added that Sarawak is represented in the TVET National Council by two members – himself and Hallman Sabri, who is the executive director of Sarawak Skills, who is also the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers chairman.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an allocation of RM7.9 billion for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), under Budget 2026.
He said that the increase, from RM7.5 billion this year, is aimed at training more local talent to meet the demands of high-growth industries, and to support high-priority sectors.
He added that the Ministry of Education’s TVET institutions will be allocated RM1.3 billion to educate 79,000 students, while the Human Resource Development Corporation, with RM3 billion in funds, will offer three million training opportunities, particularly in the high-tech, digital and energy transition sectors.
“The National TVET Council will further strengthen the TVET ecosystem in a more comprehensive manner, including through a proposal to draft the TVET Bill,” he said.
