January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 —The government will roll out the Perkasa Madani TVET Financing Scheme and a dedicated TVET Training Fund to boost youth participation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced when presenting the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in Parliament today.
As part of the plan, the TVET programme will be expanded to include tahfiz students, aiming to nurture Madani huffaz technocrats—individuals with both religious grounding and technical skills.
The curriculum will also be broadened to cover ageing care, with special incentives for students undergoing industrial training in this field.
“TVET programmes are gaining traction. In 2024 alone, we recorded 212,000 new enrolments,” Anwar said, adding that the Madani TVET initiative will be strengthened to enhance skill mastery that can lead to better-paying jobs, including for tahfiz and huffaz students.
To elevate the recognition of technical expertise, new skill certification levels—Levels 6 to 8—will be introduced under the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), placing them on par with higher education qualifications. This move aims to better align technical careers with evolving industry demands.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, noted that most TVET graduates now earn above the minimum wage of RM1,700, and 95.6% secure employment within six months of completing their training.
He highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between TVET institutions and industries, which will facilitate technology transfer and upskilling, in line with Ministry of Higher Education initiatives.
To better meet labour market needs, the structure of TVET offerings will be re-strategised to focus on high-growth, high-value (HGHV) sectors and advanced technologies, particularly in strategic industrial zones such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP), and Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP).
The government is targeting the creation of 700,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector and 500,000 in the digital economy throughout the 13MP period. — Bernama
