SUNGAI PETANI, June 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he did not agree with the move to increase fuel prices when the country was facing a global supply crisis.

On the contrary, Anwar said the government would continue to try to cover the cost of fuel subsidies by incurring large expenses every month to avoid burdening the people.

“How much can we cover in a month? Not in the old allocation, but when the price of oil rose, we paid RM5 billion, RM3 billion a month.

“Then it went up to RM7 billion a month, now it has gone down to RM4 billion,” he said when launching the Madani  Rakan Muda Programme here today.

He said if the government released RM3 billion every month for a period of 10 months, the total would reach RM30 billion.

The Prime Minister said that although the amount was high, the government could cover it through austerity measures in addition to stopping the leakage of national funds.

Anwar also rejected the proposal from certain parties for the government to take out loans or go into debt to enable the government to continue to cover the cost of oil subsidies.

“If they ask for debt, I can go into debt now, but after I leave the government, the children will have to bear it. That is why the solution is not debt, so we do what we can,” he said.

Anwar said the government’s move has enabled the price of oil in the country, especially RON95 petrol which is set at RM1.99 per litre, to be among the lowest in the world.

At the ceremony, the Prime Minister also announced an allocation of RM2 million for the construction of the Padang Awam Multipurpose Hall in Taman Keladi here.

Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, June 16 — Madani Communities nationwide have been urged to ensure the public receives accurate, verified and reliable information on the government’s policies, initiatives and achievements.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the responsibility should be shared collectively and not left solely to government agencies such as the Information Department (JAPEN) and the Community Communications Department (J-KOM).

He highlighted several government successes, including efforts to ensure food security, such as maintaining sufficient rice supplies during festive seasons through initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“Likewise, through the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme System (eCOSS) under the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the once hard-to-find subsidised packet cooking oil is now available to consumers.

“These are among the achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that must be communicated to the people by MADANI Communities,” he said at the Jiwa Madani programme here today.

During the event, Fahmi also presented appointment letters to Kelantan Madani Community leaders for the 2026-2027 term.

He said the Communications Ministry would organise regular briefing sessions to keep community leaders informed of current issues and government initiatives that need to be conveyed to the public.

In addition, JAPEN has been tasked with monitoring the performance of Madani Communities to ensure they remain effective in disseminating information at the grassroots level.

“We will also ask JAPEN to act swiftly if any Madani Community is found to be inactive. If that happens, we will make the necessary changes, including replacing those who are not performing,” he said. — Bernama 

PUTRAJAYA, June 5 — The government is targeting at least 650,000 students to enrol in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes at 1,395 TVET institutions nationwide by December 31 this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the target follows a significant rise in student participation in TVET, which is increasingly becoming a preferred education and career pathway among parents and students.

“Last year, about 587,000 students enrolled in TVET institutions, compared with around 121,000 when the TVET Council was first established.

“This shows growing recognition among parents and students about TVET, and the fivefold increase in enrolment is a very positive achievement,” he told reporters after visiting the exhibition site for the 2026 National TVET Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National TVET Council Committee, said the event is being held from today until June 7 to showcase high-quality TVET to students at institutions nationwide as well as prospective applicants.

He said the approach is important to meet labour market demand, particularly in developing skilled local workers to meet industry needs.

“We must meet labour market demand in the TVET sector, particularly in producing skilled workers for industries that need Malaysian talent, and this will in turn help raise the starting salaries of TVET graduates,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the government is also aiming for TVET to become a first-choice pathway for students, even as academic routes through public and private higher education institutions continue to be strengthened, stressing that the current focus is to meet the actual needs of the labour market nationwide.

National TVET Day 2026, themed “TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya” (TVET as the Preferred Career Choice), is expected to draw 500,000 visitors, featuring a range of programmes that give visitors the chance to explore six main hubs: TVET and industry engagement, seminars, a career carnival, entrepreneurship, TVET challenges, and educational entertainment.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate at the highlight of the event tomorrow, underscoring the government’s continued commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — The MADANI Government will continue to empower the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as a credible and respected institution in efforts to eradicate corruption without compromise, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that efforts to strengthen governance, integrity, and the country’s institutional reform agenda form the core of building a fairer, more transparent, and competitive Malaysia.

This was stated by him during a courtesy call from MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman in Putrajaya yesterday.

“I stressed that integrity is not merely a requirement in the public service, but a crucial foundation to guarantee public confidence, attract quality investments, and determine a more sustainable future for the nation.

“The MADANI Government will continue to empower the MACC as a credible and respected institution in efforts to eradicate corruption without compromise to ensure that the country’s prosperity can be enjoyed by both present and future generations,” he said via a Facebook post. — Bernama