PUTRAJAYA, June 6 (Bernama) -- A total of 270 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have recorded a graduate employability rate of 99.5 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said the impressive achievement demonstrated that MARA’s TVET institutions are at the forefront of advancing the nation’s TVET agenda, which has now entered the TVET 2.0 phase.

“I also greatly appreciate the private sector for being at the forefront of supporting TVET nationwide. They have not only introduced new training modules, but have also extended their support through the provision of equipment, machinery and other facilities for selected TVET institutions.

“They have embraced TVET 2.0 not only through the various contributions I mentioned earlier, but also by signing agreements with the National TVET Council and most TVET institutions across the country to ensure that all TVET students will be employed by the industry, with 100 per cent absorption into the workforce,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National TVET Council, in his welcoming remarks at the National TVET Day 2026 celebration here today.

The celebration was held at Dataran Putrajaya, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the launch of TVET 2.0.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the implementation of TVET 2.0 would place greater emphasis on emerging high-demand fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and renewable energy, while continuing to strengthen conventional sectors that remain in demand.

“In TVET 2.0, in addition to the priorities I have outlined, we have also sent instructors from selected TVET institutions abroad for training at no cost to the government. The programmes are fully funded by industry players overseas, enabling our instructors to acquire the latest knowledge and skills,” he said.

He added that industry players are also offering premium salaries to TVET graduates, with holders of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) receiving a minimum starting salary of RM2,500, above the current minimum wage.

The employability rate of TVET graduates nationwide rose to 98.7 per cent as of the end of May this year, compared with 95.1 per cent previously.

“This is an achievement we are grateful for. As I have often said, achieving success is difficult, but sustaining it is even more challenging. Our task and responsibility are not only to preserve this success, but to continue building on it and raising the bar even further,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said students from tahfiz institutions and pondok schools are now being given opportunities to pursue TVET programmes, including in aerospace engineering and maritime engineering, through courses offered by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

“This will elevate the capabilities of tahfiz students, who have traditionally focused on the fields of syariah and usuluddin. Insya-Allah, within the next three to five years, while continuing to preserve their Quranic memorisation, we will also see them emerge as engineers, including in the aerospace sector,” he said.

He said the initiative is expected to produce more highly skilled professionals from among tahfiz students without compromising their grounding in religious studies.

Ahmad Zahid also said that seven universities within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) provide pathways for TVET students to further their education up to master’s and doctoral levels.

He added that the government has allocated RM7.9 billion to the TVET sector under Budget 2026, the largest allocation ever provided to strengthen the implementation of TVET 2.0, including upskilling and reskilling programmes.

On the National TVET Day 2026 celebration, he said this year’s event was organised on a relatively large scale despite being conducted at a very low cost, reflecting efficient resource management and the government’s commitment to ensuring that high-impact programmes can continue without placing an undue burden on national expenditure.

Held under the theme ‘TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya’ (TVET: The Preferred Career Path), the three-day celebration, which runs until Sunday, from 9 am to 10 pm daily, brings together more than 107 agencies, institutions and industry players from nine key sectors on a single platform. These sectors include aerospace, electronics and digital technology, agriculture, transport and automotive, advanced manufacturing, services, rail, maritime and energy. — Bernama

BATU PAHAT, June 6 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Annual Congress has been postponed to Aug 14-16 to allow the party to focus on preparations for the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

PKR information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was made at the party’s monthly Political Bureau and Central Leadership Council (MPP) meeting held here today.

He said the congress, originally scheduled for June 26-28, would still be held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, Melaka.

“The postponement will provide PKR Johor and Negeri Sembilan with more time to strengthen preparations for the upcoming state polls,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the meeting also appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and PKR Johor chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa as vice-presidents.

“The appointments are aimed at further strengthening the party’s organisation and operations at the central level,” he said. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — The Petaling Jaya parliamentary office has been unable to access the MyKhas system since May 29, 2026, its MP Lee Chean Chung said in a statement today, making him the second lawmaker allegedly barred from the portal that provides access to constituency development funds.

Lee said he issued the public statement to seek clarification from Putrajaya, stressing that critical matters related to constituency allocations and Projek Mesra Rakyat (PMR) have been disrupted.

“To ensure that the rakyat (people) are not left wondering and waiting in uncertainty, I have decided to disclose this matter publicly today,” Lee wrote.

“In our country’s political history, we have witnessed several opposition MPs, including six from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), receiving constituency allocations after declaring their support for the Unity Government.

“Yet, to the best of my knowledge, this might be the first time in the nation’s history where two government MPs have lost access to their constituency allocation channels,” the PKR leader added.

MyKhas is operated by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD).

Both Lee and Subang MP Wong Chen are known allies of former minister and PKR defector Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi, together with Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also a former minister, has formed a new party set to challenge Pakatan Harapan in seats previously contested by PKR in the upcoming elections.

Wong had speculated that he was likely barred from accessing his constituency funds after attending the launch of Parti Bersama Malaysia. Lee suggested the same, but said PKR leadership should at least provide a clear reason.

“If this decision is related to my attendance at the launch event of the new party led by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad on May 17, then the party leadership should provide a clear and open explanation,” the MP wrote.

“If my actions are deemed a breach of party discipline, disloyal to the party, or detrimental to the party’s interests, then due process must be carried out. A warning letter could be issued, a show-cause letter could be requested, or a disciplinary investigation could even be conducted through the established channels.”

On May 22, PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh reportedly said the party leadership would contact the six MPs who attended the event, including Lee.

The PJ lawmaker said he has yet to receive any official notification.

“In any political organisation, the principles of accountability and due process should be respected,” Lee wrote.

“What has happened this time is deeply disappointing because no verbal or written explanation was provided before access to the constituency allocation was blocked.”

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Former MCA president Tan Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek has reportedly said that PAS could win federal power “by default” in the next general election if Chinese voters avoid the polls or intentionally cast spoilt votes.

According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), Chua said the possibility was already being “debated quietly” among Chinese voters, with some Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders believing that PAS could form the federal government if voters do not back the coalition.

“You know, Chinese are disillusioned with PH (and) DAP, although they will still continue to (vote) for DAP by default,” he was quoted as saying in an interview.

Chua reportedly said PAS would find it hard to gain ground in Sabah and Sarawak, which together have 56 parliamentary seats, while DAP is still expected to hold an advantage in 32 Chinese-majority seats.

He said this would realistically leave PAS competing over 134 seats in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, requiring an 84 per cent success rate to reach the 113 seats needed to form the federal government on its own.

“To me, unlikely — provided the Chinese come out to vote,” he reportedly told FMT.

He reportedly also said Perikatan Nasional’s attempt to present Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as a leader with wider national appeal had yet to prove itself with non-Muslim voters.

“Dr Sam is an unknown factor,” Chua was quoted as saying, referring to Ahmad Samsuri.

Chua reportedly said fresh discussions on Malay-based party alliances ahead of the Johor polls made Chinese voter turnout more crucial, as weaker Chinese turnout in close contests could improve PAS’s chances even without widespread national support.