PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today called on major and multinational companies to help fund technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the country.

He said by doing so, they would directly help the people through acquisition, maintenance and training.

“We call on these companies to help TVET because TVET trains our young people, Malays and Bumiputeras, to improve their skills to enable them to get better jobs with higher wages,” he said during minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN), who wanted to know if there were other large companies that contribute their profits to the people.

Anwar said the companies involved include Sunway Bhd, Berjaya Corporation Bhd, Telekom Malaysia and those registered with the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia as well as the Albukhary Group of Companies, which specifically offered to take over TVET in Pekan, Pahang and Tanjung Malim, Perak.

To a supplementary question from Cha Kee Chin (Rasah-PH) on tax revenue to be used to help the poor, Anwar said the current government was adopting a different approach by getting large companies to channel financial aid directly to the target group, instead of donating to political parties or individuals.

“As for (corporate figure) Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary, I asked him to donate directly to the padi farmers… involving RM60 million, which is 30% of profit recorded over 20 years,” he said. – Bernama, March 21, 2023.