KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today widened his warning over weak enforcement to include local councils, saying failures at the municipal level were undermining governance, public cleanliness and order.
His remarks come days after he issued an ultimatum to the heads of federal enforcement agencies, telling them to take decisive action against financial crime or step aside.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers at Masjid Ar-Rahimah in Taman Greenwood in Gombak, Anwar said enforcement weaknesses were not limited to federal agencies but were also evident at the state and local authority levels.
He cited poor cleanliness standards, lax regulation of illegal roadside stalls and the unchecked presence of foreign workers as examples of ineffective enforcement on the ground.
“The Cabinet discussed enforcement issues earlier today. While I am aware that several actions have already been taken, we must not be easily satisfied,” he said, according to Malay Mail.
Anwar said laws must be enforced consistently at every level, from the federal government down to local authorities, warning that gaps in implementation existed throughout the system.
“I have directed that the actions announced a few days ago be continued until they produce clear and positive results, both for the people and for the country,” he said, referring to his earlier directive to federal enforcement agencies.
He also reiterated that reform must begin from the top, with senior officials, including ministers, subjected to closer scrutiny to ensure accountability.
“Decay often begins at the top. That is why enforcement at the highest levels must be strengthened,” Anwar said.– January 30, 2026