REGULATIONS, if not looked at periodically, can become like a cluttered home.
Some laws are no longer relevant and should be replaced, according to Datuk Seri Saw Choon Boon, co-chair of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah).
A lot of work or outreach programmes have been going on behind the scenes and top of the list is the five decades old Companies Act, which is being repealed together with the Companies Commission.
The new legislation, which is waiting to be tabled in Parliament, will also reform the way of doing business in the country.
“The other major project we have started to work on is electronic filing in the Companies Commission and we should see the results in 2017,” Saw told the Business Times.
He does not think Malaysia is obsessed with global rankings, arguing that a task force like Pemudah does not distinguish the private sector from the public sector, but aims to make Malaysia a better place in terms of doing business.
“Kuala Lumpur, our capital city, must also be able attract investments.”
Towards this end, it is working closely with InvestKL and Performance Management and Delivery Unit by providing feedback.
All the work being undertaken does not point fingers at the public sector as not being in the know.
Saw, who is also president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, said tackling issues is not the only draw for the private sector in this partnership, which has been in place since 2007.
There is trust and confidence placed in the private sector and the proof is in the pudding.
Renewal of a lost passport in a day without the need for a police report is one of its well-received public efforts.
Likewise, there is a reduction in the number of procedures and time taken to obtain approvals for applications via the one-stop centre.
The KL Trax by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall online system to enhance delivery and status update for both the private sector and local authorities or agencies, by monitoring construction permit applications, is also a significant step. It provides benefits such as faster approvals, less holding cost, a single window and simplified procedures.
Business licensing is being modernised further and the task force is working on 767 licences involving 23 ministries and two Prime Minister’s Office agencies at the federal level, with costs of compliance estimated at RM729 million, and 2,546 licences at the state level were reviewed.
Thirty-two licences and another 281 licences are in the process of simplification or amalgamation.
A lot of public money has also been saved through this excellent platform as the government can consult the private sector for input to improve processes.
“The tasks are never-ending and there is always room for improvement as it is a competitive world out there, as countries race to attract investments to their shores.”
What is in store in 2016?
“We have so many tasks in the pipeline, such as trading across borders and making it easier for our exports, enforcing contract, improving the construction permit processes as well as addressing issues.
“We are not here to cure world hunger,” he said in response to numerous complaints against government agencies regarding service delivery.