Budget 2027: Higher Education Ministry gets RM19.1bil, RM800mil for university facilities upgrades

A slight increase from the Budget 2026 allocation of 18.6 billion, the Budget 2027 allocation follows a broader expansion of the ministry’s responsibilities. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

By Soo Wern Jun

First Published: Friday, 09 Oct 2026 5:29 PM MYT

Last Modified: Friday, 09 Oct 2026 5:44 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — The Higher Education Ministry will receive RM19.1 billion under Budget 2027. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this will include RM800 million to upgrade university facilities and replace ageing equipment. 

“The allocation would be used to improve infrastructure such as lecture halls and student accommodation, as well as replace outdated equipment,” Anwar told the Parliament today. 

A slight increase from the Budget 2026 allocation of 18.6 billion, the Budget 2027 allocation follows a broader expansion of the ministry’s responsibilities, with Form Six and matriculation students set to come under its purview from 2027, bringing pre-university education within the higher education system.

“The government also welcomes and encourage contributions from the public, alumni and the corporate sector to public universities.

“Donations to public universities would qualify for income tax deductions of up to 10 per cent of aggregate income,” Anwar said.