PERHEBAT TO BE STRENGTHENED AS TVET CENTRE FOR RETIRED ATM PERSONNEL - AHMAD ZAHID

PUTRAJAYA, March 5 (Bernama) -- The role of the Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PERHEBAT) will be enhanced as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre for retired Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was among the strategic decisions made at the National TVET Council meeting today to improve graduate employability and strengthen Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem.

“As a pilot project, 100 individuals will be absorbed into the logistics sector through collaboration with the Ministry of Transport (MOT), with job opportunities offering salaries of up to RM5,000,” he said in a statement today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is the National TVET Council chairman, said other initiatives include the TVET Digital Freelancing Programme, in partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), which will enable TVET graduates to earn income globally through the digital gig economy.

The government is also implementing the TVET Preneurs Pilot Programme in collaboration with the Management and Science University (MSU) to cultivate entrepreneurship among TVET graduates through training and industry guidance.

He said the FEN PROAKTIF 2.0 Programme by the Financial Education Network (FEN) will be expanded to enhance financial literacy among TVET students.

The deputy prime minister said agricultural TVET has been made a new priority to strengthen talent in the agro-food sector and boost productivity and innovation in the country’s agricultural industry.

“To recognise the potential of tahfiz students, those who have completed memorisation and hold qualifications in Malay Language and History will be awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 4, equivalent to a diploma,” he added.

This initiative, he said,  aims to open new career pathways for tahfiz graduates in various professional sectors.

Ahmad Zahid also announced that the National TVET Day 2026 will be held from June 5 to 7 at Dataran Putrajaya.

The event will bring together TVET institutions, industry players, and the community to showcase educational and career opportunities while strengthening industry and international cooperation in the TVET ecosystem.

He said the council also set a new target of 70 per cent participation of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates in TVET by the end of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

The participation rate has reached 53.9 per cent as of December 2025, showing positive progress toward the target, he said, adding that the setting of the target aligns with the national development direction, which increasingly prioritises skills and technology as drivers of economic growth.

Ahmad Zahid concluded that TVET will continue to serve as the primary pathway for producing a highly skilled workforce that is competitive and capable of supporting Malaysia’s economic growth.

-- BERNAMA