PETALING JAYA: Any decision to remove the 30% bumiputra equity ownership requirement for private educational institutions (IPS) must first be referred to the Cabinet, says Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said the requirement was based on a collective Cabinet decision made in 2009 and that any change would therefore require the government’s agreement.
“So, any decision on this matter is a collective government position, and the Education Ministry must obtain Cabinet confirmation,” he said yesterday.
Akmal said the matter must be handled carefully as it was also linked to the government’s ongoing bumiputra empowerment agenda.
On Sept 21, the Education Ministry announced that the minimum 30% bumiputra equity ownership requirement would no longer apply to private limited companies operating IPS.
The ministry said the change followed discussions with the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and was aimed at meeting the current needs of the education sector while keeping participation open to all parties wishing to contribute to its development.
However, Miti later said it had no information on the change, adding that matters concerning the bumiputra equity ownership policy fell under the purview of the Economy Ministry.
Speaking on the sidelines of KL20@Penang 2026: Silicon Surge at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre yesterday, Akmal also said balancing fuel subsidies to cushion consumers with the need to fund development and economic growth would be a key challenge in Budget 2027.
He said with oil prices still high and the outlook uncertain, the country needed to retain sufficient fiscal space to plan for development and economic progress.
Akmal said the government’s targeted fuel subsidies showed its commitment to stabilising prices and reducing the impact of volatile global oil prices amid unrest in the Middle East.
“Measures taken, including Budi95 and diesel buffers, are aimed at cushioning the impact of higher fuel prices on consumers while allowing businesses and the wider economy to operate smoothly,” he said, adding that the government would continue exploring ways to cushion the impact of fuel price increases while balancing this against fiscal constraints.
Akmal also said higher wages for Malaysians should be prioritised in Budget 2027.
“This year, we have seen encouraging growth despite the uncertain geopolitical situation,” he said, adding that it was timely for discussions on the income and wages of ordinary Malaysians to be given greater priority.
He said higher wages also needed to be supported by stronger companies capable of creating better-paying jobs.
He said the government’s support for industries such as automation, testing and equipment sector was part of this approach.
Akmal said the Economy Ministry was also looking at ways to improve the structure of the economy by encouraging Malaysian companies to move beyond manufacturing into higher-value positions in supply chains and industrial ecosystems.
