KUALA LUMPUR: Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) has invested RM51 million in 2025 into a one-stop nutraceutical products supplier and brand owner in Malaysia, in its effort to develop the nation’s private markets ecosystem via Dana Pemacu.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) said in its GEAR-uP progress report released today, Bio-Science Nutraceutical Holdings Sdn Bhd, through its local general partner, Mekar Capital and global general partner, Navis Capital, demonstrates how institutional capital can support the development of high-value healthcare and wellness businesses by strengthening domestic capabilities in nutraceutical innovation, product commercialisation and premium brand development.
Another Dana Pemacu initiative highlighted in the report is the development of centralised labour quarter facilities via Foster Capital as the local general partner and Castleforge as the global general partner.
MoF said that through a co-investment of RM 210 million in Phase 1 to develop 9,000 beds, KWAP is supporting Malaysia’s growth by creating better living environments for the people who contribute to the nation’s economic progress.
"The initiative forms part of a broader development to deliver 28,800 beds across four projects, with a total gross development value of approximately RM 600 million,” said the report.
KWAP launched the Dana Pemacu initiative in May 2024 to advance Malaysia’s economic transformation through the strategic deployment of diversified and commercially viable investments, to enhance the value and impact of government-linked investment companies (GLICs) investments.
Meanwhile, MoF also disclosed the achievements of Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s Dana Impak initiative as of June 2026, with 32 mid-tier companies (MTCs) supported under the Mid-Tier Companies Growth Innovation Programme, while another 21 MTCs were supported through the ELEVATE 2.0 Programme.
It also highlighted that GLICs play an important role as cornerstone and strategic anchor investors in quality listings on Bursa Malaysia.
The ministry said capital returned to venture and private-equity backers at the point of listing is capital they can recycle into the next generation of early-stage firms, allowing the pipeline behind them to keep moving.
It said achieving the Capital Markets Master Plan 2026-2030 target of RM5.8-6.3 trillion in market capitalisation by 2030 depends on a reliable and continuous listing flow, as well as institutional anchoring is part of what makes the flow viable.
On that note, MoF said GLICs have actively managed a portfolio of 37 government-linked companies (GLCs) with a target annual return of 7.5 per cent for the period 2024-2028, which has the potential to generate value of up to RM100 billion, with 2025 performance exceeding expectations by recording a shareholder return of 8.0 per cent.
"Because GLCs represent approximately 27 per cent of the capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market, held on behalf of the country’s savers, gains are channelled back to members of the Employees Provident Fund, KWAP, Permodalan Nasional Bhd, and Tabung Haji to enhance the retirement savings of Malaysians,” it said.
MoF said GLICs drive the creation of value in the GLC portfolio through three approaches, namely, setting targets and driving their implementation based on clear goals for shareholder returns; setting the standard for the wider corporate sector in disclosure and the discipline of long-term value creation; as well as advancing strategic national priorities. - Bernama
