The Congress of Unions in the Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) will host a convention in March to gauge the direction of GLCs and government agencies that were privatised since 1980.

Its president Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal said Prime Minister Najib Razak had agreed to attend the convention.

Former prime minister and privatisation programme pioneer Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Khazanah Nasional Berhad chief executive officer Azman Mokhtar have also been invited for the convention.

"The convention is aimed at establishing closer rapport among GLCs as we see today they are pursuing their own direction," he told a media conference after the congress meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Mohamed Shafie said the congress, with 40 GLCs as members, wants the government to appoint an independent committee to study the status of more than 200 GLCs in the country.

On another issue, Mohamed Shafie said the congress had reiterated its appeal to the government to increase the retirement age of its 400,000-odd members from 55 to 58 just like the civil servants.

He said the matter was stated in a memorandam handed to Najib on Jan 6 when 15 top leaders of the congress met the prime minister.

"The congress feels since the GLCs are government agency companies, there should be no difference in retirement age," he added.

- Bernama