Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim warned ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of federal agencies to resign if they use their official positions to attack fellow unity government partners during state election campaigns. "If they wish to do so, they should first resign from their positions as ministers, deputy ministers or members of agency boards," he said on July 19, stressing the need to maintain discipline amid federal coalition parties contesting against each other at the state level [1, 2, 3, 4].
Anwar clarified that federal office bearers must focus their campaigning on state issues without undermining unity partners using official roles. He emphasized that while parties aligned federally may compete locally, cooperation at the federal level must be preserved [1, 2, 3, 4].
In an engagement session with civil servants on July 20, Anwar apologized for moments when his tone was perceived as harsh or unfriendly. He explained that his remarks came from concern for the government's responsibility and program implementation. "Many people have advised me that as prime minister, I should not raise my voice; I should speak calmly and politely to the people … I will try," he said [5, 6].
Responding to complaints about civil service issues, Anwar ordered a review of promotion delays after reports some officers waited up to eight years. "Yes, salaries have increased, but I have also heard complaints that officers in certain grades have to wait as long as eight years for promotion... Any promotion process that takes too long must be expedited. That is the instruction I have given," he stated [7, 8]. Civil service unions praised the directive, calling for meritocracy and targeted incentives instead of seniority-based promotion [8].
Anwar also instructed officials to increase the proposed civil service salary adjustment beyond the Public Service Department's initial recommendation, describing it as insufficient despite government financial constraints. "When the proposal was brought to me, I said I could not accept it. They thought I wanted to reject the salary adjustment. But I said it was not high enough," he explained [9, 10].
On July 22, Anwar announced that the government will increase the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance in response to public concerns about the cost of living [11].
Budget 2027 formulation will begin this August, with tabling slated for early October. Anwar said the budget will emphasize economic growth that translates into tangible improvements in people's lives. "The economy is a means, not an end in itself. Its purpose is not merely to produce higher numbers, greater consumption, or larger concentration of wealth, but to enable people to live with dignity, security, purpose and hope," he said [12]. Malaysia’s economic growth rate in 2026 is projected at 5.8% [9, 10].
