KUALA LUMPUR – All private education and training institutions in Malaysia will be exempted from paying the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp) training levy for a period of one year, beginning January 1, 2026.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the initiative—implemented for the first time—covers all levels of private education, including preschools, primary and secondary schools, vocational centres, higher learning institutions, and general training providers, Bernama reported.
“After receiving numerous appeals from private education and training institutions, the Madani government is offering this exemption to allow them to concentrate on improving the quality of their training,” he said.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of National Training Week (NTW) 2025, held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong was also in attendance.
Anwar, who also holds the Finance Ministry portfolio, directed the secretaries-general of both the Education Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry to ensure proper oversight of training quality during the exemption period.
He added: “Our children must be given the best training possible. The government will find the necessary mechanisms and funding to support this effort.”
In addition to ensuring education standards, Anwar urged authorities to monitor high-earning private companies, noting, “They must be prepared to give back, even a little, to their workers.”
The announcement comes ahead of the implementation of a 6% service tax on private education services scheduled to take effect in July 2025.
Public institutions remain unaffected, as they have never been subject to this tax. – June 14, 2025