KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Utusan Malaysia today backed tighter screening of government-linked companies’ (GLCs) top leadership to prevent the entry of “wrong choices” such as those who silently oppose the government.

These industry leaders should also be subject to mandatory induction courses conducted by the National Civics Bureau, otherwise known as Biro Tatanegara (BTN) in the Malay language, the paper’s collective editorial voice said using its pseudonym Awang Selamat.

In its column in the paper, Awang Selamat noted the growing restlessness over the attitude of leaders at some GLCs, indicating that they were being questioned over their alleged lack of enthusiasm in pursuing the Bumiputera agenda and perceived acts of betrayal.

Awang expressed relief over Putrajaya’s move to impose Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on GLCs, pointing at its mention in the prime minister’s recent unveiling of Putrajaya’s Bumiputera Economic Empowerment agenda.

Last month, Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced RM31 billion in aids to boost the Bumiputera community’s participation in the economy.

In his speech on September 14, Najib had said he would direct GLCs and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to stress on developing properties for Bumiputera, as well as to lead efforts to create Bumiputera consortiums by developing entrepreneurs from the community.

Najib also said he wanted CEOs in GLCs to set targets for the Bumiputra’s participation in contracts, saying that this should be part of the indicators used to measure a CEO’s performance in GLCs.

“However there are some that viewed it as being insufficient. The selection of candidates to take on the highest positions in GLCs should be tightened so that there won’t be wrong choices until there are some that quietly menolak (oppose) the government,” Awang wrote in Utusan Malaysia’s weekend edition today.

Awang then said a friend had suggested that GLC leaders be made to attend compulsory courses by BTN.

“Once upon a time, programmes like that were carried out and also involved GLC leaders. What’s wrong if a good programme is reintroduced? Awang supports.”

Critics of BTN have alleged that the government agency spreads racism, but the bureau describes its main function as cultivating patriotism and good values in citizens to prepare for Malaysia’s dreams of becoming a developed nation by 2020.