Delayed liquor licence approvals affect businesses in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU (July 22): The National Consumer Foundation Malaysia (YPNM) expresses serious concern over the prolonged delays in issuing liquor licences to traders and entertainment outlet operators in Kota Kinabalu and other parts of Sabah.
These unnecessary bureaucratic holdups have disrupted business operations, strained financial resources, and risked the livelihoods of many small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners.
'We have received feedback from affected business owners who are unable to commence operations despite having met all application requirements. Many are facing continuous rental obligations and operational costs while waiting for licensing approvals that, in some cases, have taken several months. This situation not only jeopardizes the sustainability of their businesses but also undermines investor confidence and local economic recovery efforts post-pandemic,' said YPNM Sabah chairman David Chan.
He urges the relevant licensing authorities to take establish a clear and transparent approval timeline for all liquor licence applications, implement an online tracking system to allow applicants to monitor the status of their submissions in real time, provide interim licences or temporary approvals for businesses whose applications have been delayed without valid explanation and allocate additional manpower or streamline internal procedures to address backlogs and improve processing efficiency. 'While we understand the need for responsible regulation of alcohol sales, licensing processes must not become tools of delay or administrative negligence. Regulatory efficiency is key to protecting consumer interests and promoting fair business practices,' added Chan in a statement on Tuesday.
YPNM stands in solidarity with affected traders and calls on the State Government and relevant departments to uphold good governance by resolving this matter urgently and transparently.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Standard Chartered partners with Know Your Customer Limited to enhance the onboarding process for SME clients and boost financing efficiency
Stephen Man, Head of Wealth Management and Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Hong Kong (right), and Claus Christensen, CEO & Co-Founder of Know Your Customer (left) participate in the HKMA Data Summit 2025 held today. They showcase Standard Chartered and Know Your Customer's active involvement in CDI at a dedicated exhibition booth, presenting their achievements to over a thousand attendees. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 July 2025 -andannounce the launch of a new collaboration on real-time know-your-customer (KYC) verifications via the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)-led Commercial Data Interchange ("CDI") platform. The partnership will enhance SME account opening and KYC procedures with improved accuracy, speed, and leveraging Know Your Customer's capabilities, Standard Chartered Hong Kong can automate the retrieval of company search data via the application programming interface (API) included in CDI and unravel complex ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) structures to identify the true owners of corporate entities and improve risk assessment accuracy. This solution allows the bank to retrieve information required for account opening by automating data feeds from Know Your Customer and empowers the bank to consolidate company search data via CDI, which significantly streamlines the account opening journey, reduces the application turnaround time and drives substantial operational efficiency gains., said, "The partnership with Know Your Customer is beneficial to the digital transformation and business development of Standard Chartered Hong Kong's SME clients. As an active CDI participant we are simplifying SMEs' loan applications and reviews. This new initiative demonstrates our commitment to offering innovative banking solutions that facilitate better client experiences. By automating KYC via Know Your Customer, we're speeding up SME account opening and enabling non-face-to-face account applications anytime, anywhere. By leveraging alternative data through CDI and pursuing opportunities to collaborate with data partners, we can offer SMEs tailored loan solutions, helping them to enhance their operational efficiency and facilitate growth. This also contributes to the development of Hong Kong's digital economy.", said, "When we founded Know Your Customer in Hong Kong almost a decade ago, I experienced first-hand the challenges that SMEs faced when trying to access financial services protected by manual compliance processes. That personal experience continues to inspire our mission to remove unnecessary friction from onboarding. Through real-time registry integrations and intelligent automation, we are helping to make financial access faster, safer, and more inclusive. I'm proud that our technology plays a part in empowering future entrepreneurs and excited to collaborate with Standard Chartered Hong Kong to support the HKMA's digitalisation agenda."Hashtag: #StandardChartered #KnowYourCustomer The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Standard Chartered We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world's most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the Hong Kong SAR's three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered more stories and expert opinions, please visit Insights at . Follow Standard Chartered on X LinkedIn and Facebook Know Your Customer Limited is an award-winning RegTech company specialised in next-generation business verification solutions for financial institutions and regulated organisations worldwide. For teams struggling with inefficient client due diligence and onboarding processes, Know Your Customer offers an intuitive digital compliance workspace that combines unmatched real-time registry data, covering over 140 countries, seamless integrations, and AI-powered smart automation. This streamlined approach transforms the compliance function at its core, allowing clients to customise their solutions by selecting only the functionalities they need, all accessible via a robust REST in Hong Kong in 2015, with a local presence in Singapore, Dublin, London, and Shanghai, Know Your Customer has built a global customer base across 11 verticals and 18 jurisdictions. The company also maintains a wide network of technology and data partners, ensuring high-quality entity data and enhanced compliance processes for its more information visit or follow Know Your Customer Limited on LinkedIn or X
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Perak FMM urges more SST expansion talks for industry clarity
IPOH: The Perak Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has called for additional engagement sessions to address industry concerns over the expanded Sales and Services Tax (SST) scope, which took effect on July 1. FMM deputy chairman Mark Chan Chow Loong emphasised the need for clarity, as the expansion covers over 3,000 new items, raising technical questions among manufacturers. 'Many companies still require detailed explanations on implementation and cost implications,' he said during the Special Coffee Series: SST Expansion briefing. The session, attended by 450 industry players, aimed to clarify product classifications, exemption procedures, and cost impacts. Chan noted that raw material costs, such as in the plastics sector, account for 60 to 80 per cent of final product prices, making tax adjustments critical for pricing strategies. Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) CEO Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak highlighted the session's role in bridging policy and practice. 'This is about ensuring clarity and confidence in business operations,' he said, stressing the importance of open dialogue between policymakers and manufacturers. - Bernama
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Livintech Expo 2025 by TMT: ‘Biggest tech fair for Malaysians'
LOCAL technology retailer Thunder Match Technology Sdn Bhd (TMT) will be organising LivinTech Expo 2025, 'the largest and most anticipated tech fair of the year'. Organised in collaboration with Courts Malaysia, the event will take place at Level 5 (Pink Zone) of the Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, on Aug 1-3. The company says the event promises to be a defining moment for Malaysians, showcasing how innovation is reshaping homes, workplaces and lifestyles across the nation. LivinTech Expo 2025 will feature more than 100 local and international brands offering cutting-edge products and solutions that redefine modern living. From high‑performance PCs, laptops and gaming rigs to AI‑powered gadgets, smartphones, components and accessories, visitors will experience first-hand how the latest tech is transforming the way we work, play and connect. 'LivinTech Expo 2025 is set to be Malaysia's biggest and most exciting tech fair in recent years, and certainly the most ambitious expo we've ever curated,' said TMT sales and marketing director Eric Chan. 'Malaysia has not seen a tech fair of this scale in many years and that inspired us to take on the challenge of creating something truly remarkable. That is why we are introducing LivinTech Expo 2025, bringing together an unprecedented mix of brands, products and experiences, from cutting‑edge PCs and smartphones to AI innovations, along with exclusive promotions and deals you simply will not find anywhere else.' The three-day event, expected to welcome more than 60,000 visitors, will feature Malaysia's most dynamic brands alongside leading international names, with interactive zones and live showcases offering hands‑on experiences with breakthrough technologies. It is a celebration of how innovation, from AI devices to the latest gaming console and peripherals is shaping the way we live, work and play. Adding to the excitement, visitors who spend more than RM500 during the expo will stand a chance to win from a prize pool worth RM20,000. The first 100 customers each day will receive exclusive early-bird rewards, while special bonus hours at 1pm and 7pm will feature limited-time offers and surprise promotions. 'Part of what makes LivinTech Expo special is the energy and spontaneity we want visitors to feel when they are here,' said Chan. 'We truly hope that every visitor who walks through the LivinTech Expo will leave feeling inspired – whether it's discovering a new gadget that makes life easier or simply enjoying immersive innovation up close. We want this expo to spark new ideas and possibilities for everyone.' As Malaysia's largest technology retailer with 48 branches nationwide, TMT continues to strengthen its market leadership through strategic engagement and a focus on elevating the customer experience. For more information, visit TMT's official website here, official Facebook page here, official Instagram account here and official TikTok account here.
