KUALA LUMPUR: The role of government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) must be reviewed to ensure that all government assets can be optimised to support the development of national infrastructure and economic recovery, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       The former prime minister said that GLCs should not be competing with the private sector in the move to strengthen entrepreneurship in the country.

       “They should instead invest in high impact fields and explore new markets locally as well as internationally,” he said in debating the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Sept 30).

       The Pagoh MP also suggested that the 12MP should focus on providing more job opportunities, especially high technology occupations, such as those in the manufacturing and service sectors to boost capital and talent development.

       Muhyiddin said that the government needs to take proactive measures under the National Employment Council to reach the target of creating a total of 500,000 job opportunities this year.

       “So far, 376,000 jobseekers have successfully gained employment under the government initiative,” he added.

       He said under the initial phase of the 12MP, efforts to identify those who were unemployed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic must be given priority.

       This is vital as the government needed to formulate proactive strategies and actions to provide specific forms of assistance according to the reality on the ground, he added.