Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today reminded FRIM Inc, the new investment arm of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), to not deviate from its core business.

The firm, which was set up on Aug 4, 2017, should focus on commercialising forest research products, he said when officiating FRIM Inc at Kepong today.

"Do not over-diversify your business and do not venture beyond your core business.

"I do not want the company to set up hotels, resorts or buy hotels abroad when it should only maintain the forest. (I don't want) a company (entrusted) to raise livestock, purchase other assets instead," he said.

"I am not naming any organization here," he said.

Zahid urged the board of FRIM Inc to prioritize interests of the company and the government, and not personal ones. 

The problem with agencies were people getting too greedy when their businesses expanded, he said. 

"They think this is the time for them and their family to collect opportunities for themselves," he said.

The civil society and opposition have expressed concerns over the extensive investment of government agencies and government-linked companies, particularly the purchase of assets that had nothing to do with their current businesses.

This, especially in the case of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), years ago, and more recently, Felda and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).