SEBERANG PERAI, March 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on state governments to prioritize resolving social issues such as poverty, floods, and public housing while continuing infrastructure development. Speaking at the Madani state-level iftar event, he emphasized that addressing extreme poverty and flood mitigation should take precedence.
He also lauded Penang’s Madani affordable housing initiative, the state’s largest housing project to date, which aims to build nearly 38,000 residential units worth RM13 billion in Batu Kawan and Seberang Jaya, catering primarily to the B40 and M40 income groups. Anwar also underscored the government’s commitment to advancing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) agenda, announcing that, starting next year, 70% of admissions to Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) will be allocated to STEM students.
While acknowledging potential resistance to the move, he insisted it was necessary to meet industry demands for a highly skilled workforce, particularly in advanced technology sectors. He highlighted Malaysia’s efforts in attracting global tech giants such as Infineon, Nvidia, Arm Limited, Microsoft, and Google but stressed the need for more local talent to sustain the industry’s growth.
