KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 27 -- The government has introduced the Government Procurement Bill 2025 as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance fiscal discipline.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as Finance Minister, explained that the Bill is designed to tackle inefficiencies.

He also reaffirmed that direct negotiation contracts will no longer be tolerated, stating that the practice wasted public funds and benefited only a wealthy elite.

"Large-scale projects such as flood mitigation, schools, highways and hospitals involve huge sums.

"Awarding them hastily through direct negotiations only squandered the people's money," he said when tabling the Bill in Parliament today.

Anwar highlighted the following actions the gove...