Malaysia and China Commit RM500 Million to Develop High-Tech TVET Talent

Diyana Isamudin | The New Straits Times 

MALAYSIA. The New Straits Times (12 May 2026)  - Malaysia and China will allocate more than RM500 million to develop students under High Technical and Vocational Education and Training (High TVET) through the Malaysia–China Institute (MCI).

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the collaboration between Malaysia and China includes the provision of various advanced technology equipment for learning and training purposes.

Zahid said the collaboration is aimed at preparing Malaysian students for emerging industries such as electric vehicles (EVs), battery technology and advanced automotive systems, as the global manufacturing landscape rapidly evolves towards new technologies.

He said Malaysia is shifting its TVET ecosystem beyond conventional education towards high TVET, which focuses on advanced technological skills and industry-driven training.

"If we do not prepare from now, our students will be left behind in terms of employability in these new technology sectors," he said.

Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, spoke after launching the Malaysia–China Forum on EV, battery and new energy talent development and innovation today.

He said Malaysia aims to create nearly 500,000 job opportunities in high-technology sectors by 2030, while aiming to further enhance workforce employability by 2050.

He said cooperation with China in TVET and emerging technologies has been ongoing since 2023, with China offering 5,125 training placements to Malaysian TVET students for exposure to new technological fields.

"All the places offered last year were fully utilised, and we are now waiting for a new intake this year," he said.

As part of the bilateral commitment, he said Malaysia is strengthening the MCI as a specialised institution focused on high TVET and advanced technologies.

He said the institute is expected to expand beyond its current facilities and complement existing technical institutions such as the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI) and Malaysia-Japan Industrial Institute (MJII).

"However, the collaboration with China is different because it focuses specifically on high TVET and the latest technologies," he said.

Zahid said stronger coordination involving the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, National TVET Council and 12 related ministries would further deepen collaboration with China, particularly in vocational education and engineering.

He added that the partnership would not only involve technology development and knowledge sharing but also provide Malaysian students with greater opportunities for industrial exposure and further studies in China.

Beyond vehicle assembly, the cooperation is also expected to include parts manufacturing and the production of industrial equipment required by Chinese industries, including EV-related products and other sectors.

"They require highly skilled workers in the sectors they are focusing on, and that is what we are developing," he said.

Zahid said China is also supporting Malaysia through the contribution of training equipment and technology tools for TVET institutions.

He said Malaysia has already received new EV vehicles for training purposes, with more learning equipment expected to arrive in the near future.

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