BAGAN DATUK, May 9 2026 — Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today officiated the national launch of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Prihatin 2026 programme in his parliamentary constituency here, bringing together integrated initiatives in education, welfare, entrepreneurship and community development to support vulnerable groups.
The event was held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Maritime Polytechnic (also referred to as Sultan Nazrin Shah Polytechnic in some reports). Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister and UMNO president, described MARA Prihatin as a comprehensive platform that consolidates efforts by various MARA agencies to assist students, parents, families and communities facing economic challenges.
In his speech, he stressed the need to strengthen future-oriented Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, particularly “High TVET” that aligns syllabuses directly with industry demands in emerging sectors such as electric vehicles (EV), Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
“We are emphasising High TVET, meaning syllabuses are developed based on industry demand. They are no longer based on the old syllabus but on current job market requirements,” Zahid said. He noted that TVET graduates enjoy a high employability rate of 98.7 per cent.
The programme involves close collaboration between Yayasan Pelajaran MARA (YPM), GIATMARA, Rural Capital Berhad (RCB), MARA educational institutions and industry partners. A total allocation of RM12.5 million has been set aside for MARA Prihatin 2026, expected to benefit nearly 100,000 recipients nationwide.
At today’s launch, 2,946 students received direct contributions totalling RM560,000 from YPM. Zahid also presented mock cheques for several key initiatives:
- RM625,000 for the Rumah Impian Electrical Maintenance Programme (SERI) and the Community TVET Training Programme by GIATMARA.
- RM61,566 for takaful assistance for students, asnaf welfare aid and the Bagan Datuk Smart Tuition Programme by Rural Capital Berhad.
In addition, YPM received mock cheques from corporate sponsors and contributors amounting to RM10.53 million for its 2026 programmes.
Zahid said the initiative reflects MARA’s commitment to delivering targeted, efficient and impactful assistance, especially amid global uncertainties.
“I hope efforts like this will continue to serve as a bridge of hope for the people and open more opportunities for our children to build a better future. Insya-Allah,” he added, echoing his statement on X.
The programme will continue its nationwide rollout with upcoming stops in Gerik, Perak and Padang Besar, Perlis. It coincides with MARA’s 60th anniversary celebrations (#60TahunMARA).
The launch drew a large and diverse crowd of local residents, students and families, underscoring strong community support in Bagan Datuk.
About The Author
