PM Anwar says IPT exits comfort zone, pushes for bureaucratic reform
Malaysia’s PM Urges Universities to Break ‘Comfort Zones,’ Cut Red Tape
Source: Astro Awani · August 26, 2026 at 2:01 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, UNIVERSITI MALAYA, 26 AUGUST 2026 —
Malaysia’s PM Urges Universities to Break ‘Comfort Zones,’ Cut Red Tape
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysian universities, academics and public-sector administrators to abandon entrenched bureaucratic practices and accelerate reforms to keep pace with a rapidly changing global education landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the 13th Malaysia Madani Scientists Forum at Universiti Malaya on Wednesday, Anwar warned that lingering in a “culture of contentment” risks leaving the country’s higher-education institutions behind. He highlighted resistance to change not only among rural communities but also within political elites, ministry officials and university leadership who remain overly comfortable with existing structures.
“Educational reform requires shedding outdated rules and regulations,” Anwar said. “We’ve heard about paradigm shifts for decades, yet real transformation rarely happens because we remain shackled by old frameworks.” He stressed that universities must act swiftly in a post-normal era, avoiding excessive reliance on slow-moving bureaucratic procedures and financial constraints.
Anwar commended early adopters, particularly faculties that have embraced plans to establish an artificial-intelligence faculty despite initial administrative hurdles. He said the monthly forum will serve as a key platform to gather recommendations from the Malaysian Academy of Sciences and university experts on follow-up actions in areas including digital transformation, agro-tech security, poverty alleviation and education system reforms.
Details not yet available on specific timelines or funding allocations for proposed reforms.
Related: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim