KUALA LUMPUR: Graduate salaries will be taken into account in an upcoming wage adjustment announcement, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
The Higher Education Minister said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will announce the details.
“The matter has already been discussed by the Cabinet, with the Prime Minister giving special attention to graduate salaries.
“In line with that, the government will also consider 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 yesterday.
Zambry said the ministry would also continue efforts to address graduate underemployment by matching graduates with jobs that match 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 on Sunday for stronger career pathways aligned with graduates’ qualifications.
Ahmad 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 in, and at the ministerial level, it is progressing to ensure that those who graduate from universities and from polytechnics can have their job fields aligned with their qualifications,” he said.
Zambry also hopes that his ministry will receive an increase in its allocation under Budget 2027.
He said student welfare, facilities and accommodation at universities, polytechnics and community colleges were among the ministry’s key priorities.
“We hope for an increase in the budget, which, as you know, covers both development and management expenditure,” he said.
He said some facilities at higher education institutions were ageing and required improvements, while accommodation remained another area needing attention.
