KUALA LUMPUR: Government-linked investment companies (GLICs), namely the Employees Provident Fund, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP), will allocate a portion of their capital to support companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to value creation and the adoption of 'MY Value Up' principles.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the allocation would ensure that companies embracing stronger governance, better capital allocation and higher standards of transparency are recognised not only by the market, but also by Malaysia's largest institutional investors.
"This is an important signal. Malaysia wants a capital market that is not only larger, but better - one that rewards discipline, accountability and long-term value creation.
"We want Malaysian companies to be better governed, better valued and better prepared to compete regionally and globally," he said in his keynote address at Invest Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 2026 here today.
The MY Value Up programme is a collaborative initiative launched by the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia in April this year to enhance the valuation, transparency and market attractiveness of Malaysian listed companies. It encourages leading firms to communicate their growth strategies more clearly and benchmark themselves against global peers.
Ahmad Zahid said the government also wants growth to benefit small and medium enterprises, as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students, entrepreneurs, youth, rural communities and regional growth centres.
"A strong capital market must support not only large corporations, but the wider ecosystem of enterprise, innovation and opportunity," he said.
He said Malaysia's next phase of capital market development must be anchored not only in size, but also in quality, as investors increasingly seek stronger governance, better capital allocation and clearer strategic direction.
"Yes, profit matters. But in today's market, companies must also be credible, sustainable and accountable.
"This is the purpose of MY Value Up. It encourages companies to look beyond quarterly performance, communicate their long-term strategies with greater clarity, and demonstrate how they intend to build enduring value," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia's capital market would be central to the country's next phase of growth, connecting ambition with opportunity while enabling entrepreneurs to scale, companies to innovate and investors to participate in the nation's growth story.
He noted that the size of Malaysia's capital market reached RM4.3 trillion in 2025, more than twice the country's gross domestic product. Funds raised increased to RM187.7 billion, while 60 initial public offerings were listed. The Islamic capital market also expanded to RM2.7 trillion. - Bernama
