Ipoh, Perak, 11 September 2025 — The Perak State Government, under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, has launched a concerted effort to shift perceptions around Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), insisting that it should no longer be seen as a “second-class” path. The call comes as part of broader initiatives to strengthen TVET participation and align the state’s workforce with the demands of upcoming mega projects.
Speaking during a sitting of the Perak State Assembly, Saarani emphasised that 2025 has been declared the “Year of the TVET Campaign” in the state — a year dedicated to promoting TVET among students, parents, and educators, with the goal of encouraging greater uptake of technical and vocational pathways.
Perak currently hosts 100 higher education institutions, of which 62 provide TVET-related programmes. These include community colleges, skills institutes, GiatMARA centres, and universities. Saarani noted the progress in collaborating with training providers to tailor course offerings to meet the specialised requirements of projects in sectors such as automotive, maritime, and electrical & electronics.
Addressing Workforce Needs for Mega Projects
One of the pressing motivators behind this campaign is the state’s involvement in several large-scale federal and private projects which require skilled labour. For example, Saarani mentioned the Third Regasification Terminal (RGT3) in Lumut — slated to begin operations in February — which is projected to need around 3,000 skilled welders. Meanwhile, a proposed water transfer project from Sungai Perak to Bukit Merah in Kerian is expected to demand many skilled tunnelling workers.
These labour requirements span growth areas such as green technology, electric vehicles, halal industries, maritime logistics, and rare earth processing — sectors where technical skills are critical. Saarani affirmed that raising the standard and image of TVET will help Perak both attract investment and supply the human capital needed for these ambitious developments.
Focus on Changing Perceptions & Building Capacity
Saarani’s initiative focuses on more than just infrastructure: it involves changing mindset. He said parents, teachers, and students often harbour the belief that TVET is inferior to academic paths; under this campaign, Perak aims to show that TVET is a legitimate, valued, and rewarding way to build a career.
To support this, Perak is working with educational institutions to deliver relevant TVET curricula, ensuring the training aligns with the technical demands of emerging industries. The state is enhancing capacity via partnerships with institutions like Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah and Universiti Kuala Lumpur for automotive skills, and with community colleges and skills centres for maritime and energy sector readiness.
Bigger Picture
Saarani’s push in Perak reflects national policy trends that increasingly recognise TVET as essential to Malaysia’s economic and human capital growth. Under the 13th Malaysia Plan and other state-level development agendas, the shift is toward seeing TVET not as an alternative for those who “fail academically,” but as a core pathway for fulfilling labor market demand, fostering skills, and enabling technological development.
Through declaring the Year of TVET Campaign, Perak aims to become a model for TVET excellence. Saarani envisions Perak as a “TVET Corridor”—a hub where skills development, industrial growth, and high-skilled employment come together.
