The government's bailout of Renong was a bid to salvage Umno's ailing assets and not to save the conglomerate's employees from the prospect of unemployment as suggested by the prime minister, said an economics professor today.

Universiti Malaya's Prof KS Jomo said productive employees in enterprises, industries and services will continue to keep their jobs even when there is a change in ownership.

"Take, for example, the North-South highway. Even if United Engineers (Malaysia) (UEM) is bankrupt, the highway will not disappear and people will be needed to manage it," he said.