Anwar said agents had long exploited the system, raking in large commissions. He said this had prompted Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to tighten its licensing process this year.

“I understand if an association wants to collect tens of ringgit for security and cleaning, but not the sale of licences. Civil servants know this has been going on for a long time.

“I want strict enforcement, as seen in Kuala Lumpur, to be applied elsewhere. If a licence holder transfers (sells) their licence, revoke it immediately,” he said in his speech at the monthly assembly of staff from the Prime Minister’s Department.

On Jan 23, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that DBKL would take full control of Ramadan bazaar licence applications and site management in the capital to ensure fair rental prices and better oversight.

She said some traders had paid middlemen up to RM20,000 for a stall, only to end up without one.

Anwar, who is the finance minister as well, also reiterated his support for DBKL’s crackdown on illegal businesses run by foreign nationals, some of which he said had been operating for decades.

“I fully support DBKL in enforcing the rules. This is not cruel,” he said.