PUTRAJAYA: Government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) should take bigger corporate responsibility in the nation's development and not only focus on making profits.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the collective role of GLICs to manage over RM2 trillion in asset value must be optimised in supporting Malaysia's economic growth and direct domestic investments.
Apart from investments, they should also emphasise on the Bumiputera agenda, welfare of their workers and contribute to the country's education sector, he said.
"It is unreasonable for the companies to make profits, but some of their staff do not have enough funds to send their children for further studies, for instance," he said at the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly today.
Moving forward, he said the Finance Ministry and Pantau Madani (a unit formed to monitor implementation of government initiatives) would coordinate efforts to implement strategic investments in line with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) and National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), as well as support Malaysia's economic transformation.
He said they would also oversee measures to improve the workers welfare and support human capital development, which includes programmes to enhance graduates marketability and corporate responsibility in improving the people's socioeconomy through education scholarships, supporting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and carrying out poverty eradication programmes.
He said 2024 would see the Madani government continuing with its efforts to expedite reforms and change for the benefit of the people.
"All must work together as a solid team to produce a better performance this year.
"All government machinery, be they ministries, departments, agencies, GLICs and GLCs, as well as statutory bodies must work in realising the performance indicators set under the Madani economy."
He said many initiatives for the people had been approved including flood mitigation projects, Pan Borneo Sabah Highway, Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 Johor Baru, Sarawak Cancer Centre, expansion of Penang Airport, Penang light-rail transit, infrastructure projects and government quarters.
He said good governance must continue to be a priority of all quarters, but must not be made an excuse for any delays in the implementation of government initiatives.
He also reminded government agencies to improve ease of doing business and investments that would be the key to making Malaysia an economic leader in the region.