Malaysia Education Ministry to review tuition centre ownership rules

The Malaysian Education Ministry has announced it will submit a proposal to the Cabinet next week to review ownership structure rules for tuition centres. This decision follows significant criticism regarding a long-standing policy requiring these centres to maintain 30% Bumiputera equity to qualify for license renewals starting in 2027.

The 30% equity requirement originated from a 2006 policy book. Critics, including Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, have called for greater consultation with operators and clearer implementation guidance. Various stakeholders have raised concerns that the mandate could unfairly burden small, neighborhood-based businesses that have operated for decades.

Other critics, such as the Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) and scholar Sharifah Munirah Alatas, warned that the policy risks racializing the education sector and may not effectively foster genuine entrepreneurship. The ministry stated it believes the education sector should remain open to all parties contributing to the development of Malaysian children.