Anwar hints at Budget 2027 help for hungry university students, urges youth to lead now

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested that Budget 2027 might include initiatives to assist university students facing food insecurity, expressing that the government was currently exploring the matter. Speaking to a large crowd of young people at the Youth Economic Forum (YEF) 2026, Anwar emphasized the government's responsibilities of enhancing education quality and ensuring students' proficiency in Malay, English, and other languages.

He stated, "There are university students who say, we want to learn but we are hungry. We focus on it. Later I will announce during the Budget. Can't announce it all," eliciting applause from the audience. The following Saturday, Anwar revealed he had heard of lower-income university students surviving on instant noodles, and the Treasury had several preliminary proposals to address the issue.

Anwar also reminded young Malaysians that they should not perceive themselves merely as future leaders but as leaders who could already collaborate to effect change. "The youth now, in the current narrative, certainly are leaders for the future. But the youth now should also help and lead the country together. You are not only leaders for the future, but also leaders now working together," he urged.

The PM called on young Malaysians of various ethnicities to abandon racial and religious animosity, urging them to embrace the country's diversity as a strength. "My word, I'm confident, if this is the new spirit, we will see our country advance fast and in 10 years' time, it is not the Malaysia we know today, but we will see a new, vibrant, progressive, successful Malaysia," Anwar stated.

At the forum organized by the Perdana Fellows Alumni Association, Anwar received six youth-led policy proposals derived from a nationwide survey of over 2,000 youths. The proposals addressed artificial intelligence, green entrepreneurship, skills development, public services, foreign direct investment, and the creation of a National Youth Economic Action Council to serve as a platform for youths to contribute to economic policy.

Anwar also received a memorandum outlining these proposals for Budget 2027. The YEF 2026, themed "Decoding the Next Decade: Advancing Malaysia’s Economic Frontier," was met with a warm reception from the youths upon Anwar's arrival, with many cheering and chanting "PMX" to reference his position as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister.