PUTRAJAYA, September 1 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today it is still too early to determine whether Malaysia should allow students to finish secondary school by age 16 to join the workforce earlier. He said the proposal, which aims to enable students to enter the job market by 21, requires further discussion and evaluation before any decisions are made.
The idea was floated by former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who suggested in Parliament that the policy could help Malaysia address the challenges of an ageing population by developing a younger, economically active workforce. Anwar made the remarks briefly to reporters after the Budget 2026 Engagement Session held at the Finance Ministry.
