He agreed that a DOGE-like agency would go a long way in addressing some of the problems involving the civil service, but said that any attempt to trim the sector would pose a political threat, particularly to Malay hegemony.

“This is the reason why no government or prime minister in power has the political will to reform the country’s civil service,” he said in a statement.

Last night, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he agreed with the idea of a Malaysian version of DOGE, adding that such a department should be run by “someone bright from the private sector”.

However, he dismissed the possibility of job cuts as the civil service adapts to automation and future demands, proposing that workers be retrained and redeployed instead.

Ramasamy, who previously called for the civil service to be reformed to reflect Malaysia’s ethnic composition, said Khairy was aware that attempts to reform the civil service could destabilise the government.

“Khairy himself knows very well that the Malaysian government lacks the political will to bring about reforms and efficiency,” he said.