High-ranking civil servants will have to sit for an English language competency test, announced Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the test was crucial because these civil servants have to deal with foreigners.

"All top civil servants must have a good mastering of English... they will have to undergo English competency tests," he told a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Mahathir also revealed that top civil servants with the rank of Jusa A and above would have their entertainment allowance trimmed by 10 percent as part of the government's cost-cutting measures. 

The prime minister had last month announced that all minister will take a 10 percent pay cut on their base salaries.

Meanwhile, other cost-cutting measures announced by Mahathir today was to streamline training institutions attached to government ministries to avoid wastage.

He also said there will be a review of the existing ministries and the agencies under them, to avoid overlap.