Shanmugam Mookan, a special duties officer to the prime minister, said these allegations were made recently.

While he did not go into detail on who made the allegations, he said the PMO is adequately staffed, with three officers working in his own office.

“I was specifically appointed by the prime minister to handle Indian community affairs,” he said in a statement today.

“Most of the staff are hired to focus on bridging gaps and addressing various issues faced by the community.”

Earlier this week, Anwar announced that RM1.5 million would be allocated for Deepavali food baskets and RM20 million for the construction of crematoriums in several states.

Shanmugam also said Anwar had always respected Indian cultural and religious practices, especially after his involvement in the Hindraf movement.

“Not once has he asked me to change the way I practise my culture, even when I am at the PMO or by his side,” he said.