KUALA LUMPUR: Graduate salaries will be taken into account in an upcoming salary adjustment announcement, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will announce the details.
“The matter had already been discussed by the cabinet, with the Prime Minister giving special attention to graduate salaries.
“In line with that, it will also take into account the issue of graduate salaries.
“I cannot say how much (salary), but let the Prime Minister announce it,” he said at the launch of the 2026 National Academia Day and Month Celebration on Monday (Oct 5).
Meanwhile, Zambry said the Higher Education Ministry would continue efforts to address graduate underemployment by matching graduates with jobs suited to their qualifications and fields of study.
He said this was in line with the National Higher Education Plan 2026-2035.
Zambry was responding to a question on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for stronger career pathways aligned with graduates’ qualifications on Sunday (Oct 4).
Zahid had said the issue needed attention following Department of Statistics Malaysia data showing that about 1.6 million graduates, or 32.2%, were working below their qualification level.
Zambry said the ministry was working with other ministries to better align graduates with labour market needs.
“This means inter-ministerial cooperation is very important,” he said, citing the importance of the involvement of the Higher Education Ministry, Economy Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.
“These are three main ministries that we need to work together well, and at the ministerial level, it is progressing to ensure that those who graduate from universities, from polytechnics, can have their job fields aligned with their qualifications,” he said.
