More funds can be allocated to empower Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) if corruption is curbed, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said misconduct and betrayal of trust must be fought and stopped immediately as TVET has great potential to grow and attract foreign investment, demanding high focus and expenditure by the government.

“Courageous action needs to be taken for us to stop the abuse of buying TVET equipment for RM40 million while pocketing RM5 million. In a flood mitigation project, if the price is RM1 billion, RM200 million gets embezzled.

“This betrayal must be stopped so that we can return the money to the people. The children have to understand why people are angry with us, why there is talk about corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement. Yes, this is why it is difficult for us to find money now,” he said.

He said this when officiating the National TVET Day 2024 celebration at the Industrial Training Institute in Kuala Langat today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also the National TVET Committee chairperson, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, also explained that the retargeting of electricity, diesel, and chicken subsidies can save billions of ringgit in government expenses.

The prime minister said the savings could then be used to ease the people’s burden in many matters, including by increasing allocations to empower TVET.

“All these need to be understood including the diesel subsidy retargeting that has just been announced... many of us are not involved, only fishermen, farmers, smallholders and bus operators, even that the government helps with special assistance,” he said.

- Bernama

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