Speaking at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department, he said some agencies had already begun their Ramadan donations, which he said were “somewhat excessive”.

“I’ve noticed that the packaging is quite lavish – beautifully designed boxes meant for dates, but if the box costs more than the dates themselves, that’s wasteful.

“There’s no need to show such extravagance when the funds could be better used to help those in need. This is a reminder,” he said in his speech.

Anwar also urged civil servants to follow the debate on the Public Administration Efficiency Commitment Bill, set to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this week.

“I am highlighting this because many decisions are not reaching the lower levels, causing unease,” he said, adding that Cabinet decisions should be communicated to all civil servants.

Chief secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said last November that the bill aimed to boost Malaysia’s Corruption Perceptions Index ranking by improving public administration efficiency.

‘MPs must act wisely on Parliamentary Services Bill’

Anwar also called on MPs to exercise wisdom in debating and passing the Parliamentary Services Bill, which he will table for a second reading tomorrow.

He said separating the administration of Parliament from the executive was a complex task requiring thorough discussions with the speaker, parliamentary staff, and stakeholders.

“This bill reflects the maturity of our democratic process, establishing Parliament as a symbol of independence and a platform for MPs to express themselves freely,” he said.

The bill, tabled on Feb 24 by law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, has since been criticised by the likes of former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who said it was poorly drafted and lacked clarity in its objectives.