Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was reached during the second meeting of the National TVET Council (MTVET) for 2025, which he chaired today.

He said the proposal to establish the commission stemmed from a series of discussions, including the Bumiputera Economic Congress retreat, the 13th Malaysia Plan, as well as previous MTVET meetings.

“The commission will serve as the main regulatory body for TVET in Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

Zahid also said the commission will be tasked with formulating national TVET policies and strategies.

The commission will also oversee the registration of TVET institutions, skill standards, centralised student intake and big data management; monitor institutional performance; evaluate programme outcomes; and recommend interventions and improvements to central agencies.

“The establishment of the commission is aligned with the government’s aspiration to position TVET as a prime choice for education and career pathways, producing a highly skilled workforce that meets industry needs and contributes to national economic growth.

“A series of townhall sessions and stakeholder engagements with industry players will be held over the next six months to ensure the commission’s establishment is realised.

“I believe the success of TVET requires tripartite cooperation involving the government, TVET institutions and industry to ensure curricula, training methods and trainer competencies remain relevant to market demands,” he added.

He said TVET graduates must also be equipped with strategic skills in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data centre management, cybersecurity and electric vehicles.