Kuala lumpur: Khazanah Nasional Bhd has successfully deployed RM15 billion of its RM25 billion five-year domestic investment commitment as part of the Ministry of Finance's GEAR-uP initiative. This deployment is a significant portion of the RM120 billion domestic direct investment (DDI) target set by government-linked investment companies (GLICs) for the years 2024 to 2028.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Khazanah Nasional's managing director, Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, emphasized the sovereign wealth fund's substantial contribution to the initiative during an appearance on Bernama TV's The Nation programme. He highlighted that Khazanah's commitment of RM25 billion forms a crucial part of the broader investment strategy, with RM15 billion already deployed. The GEAR-uP programme, which includes entities like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), and others, reported a significant increase in domestic investments, reaching RM20.3 billion in 2025, a notable rise from RM6.6 billion in 2024.
Khazanah emerged as the largest contributor with RM7.9 billion, followed by the EPF and KWAP, contributing RM5.8 billion and RM5.4 billion respectively. Amirul Feisal noted that this surge in domestic investments aligns with global trends observed in major economies, driven by disruptions in trade and supply chains due to geopolitical tensions and tariffs.
Amirul Feisal further elaborated on Khazanah's role in the initiative, describing it as a catalyst for innovation and growth for mid-tier companies. By supporting companies with growth potential, Khazanah aims to help them scale and eventually access capital markets, facilitating their transition into mature sectors. This strategy, likened to a relay race, allows larger GLICs to step in later through mechanisms such as initial public offerings (IPOs).
In terms of balancing national development goals with investment returns, Amirul Feisal outlined Khazanah's cluster-based approach. This strategy aligns commercial viability with strategic priorities, grouping related assets to enhance connectivity and create a multiplier effect across sectors. Investments in energy transition were highlighted as both commercially viable and strategically important, aiming to boost resilience against global energy shocks while accelerating the shift to renewable energy.