Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the privatisation of civil service will not result in civil servants losing their jobs.

“Referring to the privatisation done in the 80s where, for example, Telekom Malaysia (TM), which was under the government at that time, the workers were then, of course, absorbed to the new corporatised TM.

“At that time, that helped reduce the number of workers in the civil service,” he said during a conversation with minister held at the Invest Malaysia 2019 capital market forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

On the timeline of the privatisation of the civil service, he said this would depend on the proposal and discussion with the affected workers.

“I would like to say now, this is something that is in progress. It will not be done quickly or immediately without giving regard to the concerns of all the stakeholders,“ he added.

Asked on the list of the government agencies to be privatised, he said this will be announced by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

- Bernama