PUTRAJAYA (March 6): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the task of evaluation to be returned to civil servants and for dependence on consultants to be reduced under his administration.

Based on his previous eight-year experience with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Anwar said he witnessed the competency of government officers in leading and steering projects, and where necessary, they were assisted by one or two consultants only.

“Under the current administration, I want the big task of making assessments to be returned to civil servants,” he said at the monthly assembly with the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department here on Monday (March 6).

Referring to the success of the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc) and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in reaching a settlement regarding their dispute with the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and Aabar Investments PJS (Aabar PJS), Anwar attributed it to, among others, efforts of civil servants, such as those at the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.