2027 Budget: RM19.1bil allocation to improve student welfare, campus facilities

KUALA LUMPUR: The additional allocation of nearly RM500 million for the Higher Education Ministry under the 2027 Budget will be used to enhance student welfare, particularly in constructing and upgrading residential colleges at public higher education institutions.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the ministry received an allocation of RM19.1 billion, representing a RM500 million or 2.7 per cent increase from RM18.6 billion last year.

He said RM800 million from the total allocation is earmarked to upgrade lecture rooms and student residential colleges, as well as replace obsolete equipment at public universities, polytechnics, and community colleges.

"We will fully utilise the allocation to create a more comfortable, safe, and conducive environment for students on their respective campuses.

"We thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the 2.7 per cent increase allocated to the ministry," he said at the national-level 2026 Alumni Back to Campus Programme launch at Universiti Malaya today.

Zambry said the ministry is prioritising solutions to student housing shortages through various approaches to expedite the construction of residential colleges at identified universities.

He noted that several universities have already commenced construction while others have recently obtained approval, ensuring that accommodation issues faced by students across all universities will eventually be resolved.

During the 2027 Budget presentation yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would collaborate with government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to accelerate student housing projects, including a RM750 million investment by Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) through the Vista Kampus project.

Anwar said the Vista Kampus project involves constructing student residences across six universities, including Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

Additionally, Phase 1 of the Universiti Malaya Student Residence is scheduled for completion in 2031 and is expected to benefit 10,000 students at the university.