KUALA LUMPUR: In a move aimed at reshaping the future of tahfiz education, the government gave an assurance of 100% employability for professional and technocrat huffaz in view of strong industry demand and strategic partnerships with multinational corporations (MNCs).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the assurance was based on current workforce needs.
He cited the engineering sector which requires 60,000 engineers annually but Malaysia produces just about 6,000 graduates each year.
The wide gap, he said, presents significant opportunities for tahfiz graduates who not only memorise all 30 juzuk of the Quran but also pursue professional qualifications in fields of engineering, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, robotics and electric vehicles.
“There is no need for a specific guarantee because their employability is indeed 100%. Industry demand is extremely high and we are working closely with MNCs,” he said at the Gen Huffaz Teknokrat Mara 2026 assembly at the Federal Territories Mosque here yesterday.
The programme to produce professional huffaz is implemented through institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) as well as technical universities including Universiti Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN).
Ahmad Zahid said integrating tahfiz education with technical disciplines not only strengthens value-based human capital but also addresses the nation’s strategic needs in high-technology sectors.
The government has set a target of producing 125,000 professional and technocrat huffaz by 2050, with plans to expand the programme nationwide through MTUN.
“With continuous monitoring and strong industry support, the target is expected to be achieved ahead of schedule, further enhancing the competitiveness of tahfiz graduates at both national and global levels,” he added.
In an earlier statement, Ahmad Zahid said the government would continue to strengthen the capacity, training and preparedness of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force in line with efforts to build a more resilient Malaysia in facing the challenges of climate change and increasingly complex disaster risks.
Whenever the country has to deal with disasters such as floods, fires or landslides, he said civil defence personnel are always among the earliest teams to be deployed to the ground.
“They respond with dedication, working hand in hand with other rescue agencies to ensure victims are kept safe.
“Indeed, the dedication and sacrifices of the heroes and heroines of civil defence in safeguarding the safety and welfare of the people are meaningful to the nation,” he said.
On another matter, Ahmad Zahid said Mara, which marked its 60th anniversary yesterday, would have its role further strengthened to enable more bumiputra youths to advance and stand on equal footing globally.
He said the institution, which was established on March 1, 1966, remains strong and relevant as a driver of bumiputra development, in line with the demands of an increasingly challenging and competitive era.
“Six decades later, Mara stands as an institution that has opened millions of doors of opportunity in producing generations of professionals, entrepreneurs, skilled workers and leaders who contribute to the nation’s progress.
“Behind every success story, there is Mara’s role in building confidence, shaping capabilities and paving the way for a better life. Mara has become a bridge of hope, transforming potential into achievement and dreams into reality,” he said.
