KUALA LUMPUR: All ministries will face budget cuts under Budget 2027 as the government seeks to strengthen fiscal discipline amid global economic uncertainties.
The ministries – including Education and Higher Education – are expected to identify areas where spending can be reduced, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated.
The Prime Minister, however, said the savings could be achieved without compromising key national priorities like quality education and infrastructure.
“Yes, we have asked all ministries, including the Education and Higher Education ministries, to make cuts. There must be reductions in spending.
“Out of RM20bil, it is impossible that nothing can be saved. There are many areas where costs can be reduced,” Anwar said in his speech when launching the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair here yesterday.
Despite the fiscal discipline, Anwar said efforts to improve the quality of education and educational facilities at schools and universities would continue.
He urged ministers and senior civil servants to adopt a broader perspective when planning expenditure, saying ministries could no longer operate in isolation and focus only on their respective portfolios.
“Everything is important. National unity is important, culture and sports are important, science and technology are important.
“But there must be wisdom and an understanding of the macroeconomic situation,” he said.
Anwar said ministries should identify inefficiencies, address weaknesses and reduce costs where necessary.
He said Malaysia recorded one of the strongest economic performances in Asean and Asia during the first quarter of the year despite global uncertainties.
He added that the conflict in the Middle East had affected regional security and economic conditions, including Malaysia’s economy.
He warned that Malaysians should not be complacent, even though the country had sufficient crude oil and diesel supplies thanks to strong ties with major energy producers.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the RM100 Buku Madani vouchers to secondary school students and university students would continue, with the aid channelled directly through a discount mechanism when purchasing books.
He said the government remained committed to prioritising education and the reading habit despite fiscal constraints.
“If we want to make this country a civilised nation with broad knowledge and learning, we must encourage reading,” he said.
“I told the Finance Ministry that even though things are difficult and there are financial constraints, matters relating to books and education must continue to be prioritised,” he said.
He also urged parents to ensure the vouchers were used to buy books and to monitor their children’s reading habits.
“Parents should also ensure their children do not simply buy books and leave them on the shelf, but actually read them,” he said, expressing concern over what he described as a declining reading culture in the modern era.
Anwar said many people now preferred consuming short-form content online, often attempting to address complex issues in just a few words.
“The reading culture has become a problem in the modern world.
“Many people have lost interest in reading because they only read social media, trying to solve complex problems in 20 words, insulting others and rejecting national policies in 40 words.
“This is dangerous and harmful. This is not education,” he said.
