Budget 2027 Wishlist: Invest in young Malaysians, from classroom to career

In his recent speech at the Youth Economic Forum, the Prime Minister’s focus on young people, especially university students facing hunger and financial hardship, is welcome. Students who face financial hardship and struggle to afford basic needs face many obstacles to completing their studies. Tragically, some may even opt to bury their dreams; therefore, any financial support from the government, the university, and the private sector may be a major defining factor in the success of these students, their families, and eventually societies.

As a university leader, I am hopeful about the upcoming Budget 2027 for Malaysian students. I believe that we have a duty to create the future workforce, which is well supported by the education ecosystem, right through employers and the government.

As universities, our job goes beyond handing out qualifications. We want graduates who communicate with confidence, collaborate well, and judge soundly, with integrity, empathy and respect to match their knowledge, especially as technology reshapes how we live and work.

It starts in schools. Children need room to build interpersonal skills and good values, in an environment that protects their mental wellbeing. The closer collaboration between the Health and Education ministries on school mental health is encouraging. We hope that  Budget 2027 would build on it with adequate counselling resources and clear pathways to providing professional mental health support in schools.

Teachers are the key. At the grassroots level, schoolteachers provide a foundation for students, creating leaders and changemakers. Therefore, teachers need sustained professional development and resources to support students with different learning and emotional needs. A teacher who spots difficulty early and connects a child to help strengthens the foundation that universities and employers later rely on.

At university, learning must meet the workplace. We should back more employer-designed projects and meaningful industrial placements. These experiences show students what employers expect and build their confidence before their first job. Placements need proper supervision, clear learning outcomes, and financial support, so that taking part never depends on family income and opportunities are available to those from B40 income groups as well.

Digital and AI literacy should be accessible across every discipline. All graduates must know how to use these tools responsibly and ethically, question their outputs and apply them with professional judgement, initially as students and eventually when they enter the workforce.

Strong graduate employability provides a foundation for long-term career success. Building on this achievement, tracking how graduates apply their skills, advance in their careers and earnings, and pursue further learning would help universities and employers strengthen pathways into meaningful work and continued professional growth.

Sustained research funding belongs in this investment. It develops postgraduate talent and lets universities work with industry and government on problems that need to be addressed in Malaysia. The government’s emphasis on commercialising research is welcome, and it needs support that carries promising ideas through testing, development and real-world application.

These priorities serve the wellbeing and social mobility goals of the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan. Budget 2027 can connect those ambitions by investing in young people at every stage of their development.

Sources: RMK13 BI Risalah new