On the dwindling Petronas dividend payout, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government has to “bear with it”.

In October, it was reported that the federal government was expecting a dividend payout of RM20 billion from the national oil company, the lowest in nine years.

Anwar said the dividend payment to the government depends on market conditions and the oil and gas industry’s performance, which is susceptible to volatility due to the uncertain global environment.

“I think we have to accept that we cannot be too dependent on petrol coffers. So, we have to bear with it.

“We have to create new business entities that could generate more revenue for the government,” he told editors at a briefing here this evening.

Petronas paid a dividend of RM32 billion to the government last year.

According to Reuters, the lowest payout by Petronas was made in the last 10 years, amounting to RM16 billion in 2016 and 2017.