GLCs contribute significantly to Malaysia's economic development especially in the critical sectors of transportation, communications, power, banking, and commodities like rubber and palm oil. However, GLCs have been laggards in almost all key financial and operational indicators. The Government should review its policies on GLCs to ensure that they only focus on core activities in their areas of competence, appoint CEOs who have the necessary professional and personal attributes to lead large corporations, discontinue the current practice of appointing directors with political connections, and accelerate the pace of strategic alliances with transnational corporations or with regional firms for reaping the new market opportunities emerging from globalization. This study contributed to theory development to reflect the importance of critical factors for the effective and efficient performance management of Malaysian GLCs.