The Honourable Datuk Ts Mustapha Sakmud

Deputy Minister of Higher Education  Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia)

The Honourable Datuk Ts Mustapha Sakmud currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia. He was appointed to this position in December 2022 and plays a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s Higher Education landscape, particularly in advancing access, inclusivity, and global collaboration in the sector. 

Datuk Ts Mustapha is a Member of Parliament for Sepanggar, Sabah. With a strong background in technology, education, and youth development, he brings a wealth of experience to his ministerial duties. He is professionally recognised as a Professional Technologist (Ts.) under the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), reflecting his commitment to innovation and digital transformation. 

As Deputy Minister, he has been actively engaged in driving Malaysia’s agenda on internationalisation of Higher Education, strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, and empowering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He champions initiatives that enhance employability among graduates and align Malaysia’s Higher Education system with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). 

He is also a strong advocate of regional and international cooperation, leading Malaysia’s participation in bilateral and multilateral engagements that promote educational exchanges, research partnerships, and mobility programmes for students and academics. 

Datuk Ts Mustapha is deeply committed to ensuring that Malaysia’s Higher Education system remains competitive, inclusive, and future-ready. His efforts continue to contribute to Malaysia’s vision of becoming a regional hub for Higher Education and a global centre for knowledge and innovation.