Kuala lumpur: The extension of compulsory education to secondary level marks an essential step in formulating the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2026-2035, representing a significant reform to ensure pupils do not drop out after completing Year Six. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, when winding up the debate on the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, stated that the amendments to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) are in line with international practice.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Bill was passed with a majority voice vote after being debated by 15 senators before Dewan Negara president Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali. Fadhlina noted that since compulsory education was introduced in 2003, primary school enrolment increased from 92.9 per cent to 99.39 per cent in 2024, surpassing the target set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). However, she highlighted the need for improvement in secondary school enrolment, with current figures at 96.31 per cent for lower secondary and 92.6 per cent for upper secondary levels.
Fadhlina emphasized that extending the policy will provide students with greater opportunities to complete their education up to Form Five, thereby increasing their chances of furthering their studies at a higher level or entering the workforce more competitively.
In another development, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran discussed the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, which aims to strengthen safeguards for whistleblowers and ensure more effective enforcement. Kulasegaran explained that the amendments not only provide protection for whistleblowers but also ensure disclosures of misconduct can be investigated fairly in the public interest. A key amendment is the removal of the proviso under Section 6 of Act 711, allowing protection for individuals even if the information disclosed is subject to other laws, provided the disclosure is made in good faith to enforcement agencies. The Bill also introduces a new subsection empowering enforcement agencies to maintain protection for whistleblowers involved in misconduct, as long as the information disclosed serves the public interest.
Earlier, the Dewan Negara also passed the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to strengthen enforcement of the Poisons Act 1952 (Act 366) in tackling the abuse of poisons and psychotropic substances. Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni explained that the amendments involve extending enforcement powers to any police officer regardless of rank, compared to the current provision, which is limited to inspectors and above. The amendment is expected to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement by providing clarity and broader powers to all police officers as defined under the Police Act 1967, thereby strengthening action, inspection, and investigation into cases involving the abuse of substances such as ketum and psychotropics. The Bill was passed by voice vote after debate by four senators.