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Bureaucratic Reform: Communications Ministry Slashes Red Tape For Foreign Film Approvals
GENERAL
PUTRAJAYA, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Communications has successfully reduced the script approval processing time for international film production companies from 30 days to just seven, marking a significant step in bureaucratic reform, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Speaking at his weekly press conference today, Fahmi, who is also MADANI Government spokesperson, said the achievement is particularly noteworthy for the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), as it addresses a critical need for thorough script reviews for foreign film shoots in Malaysia.
'Several other agencies under the Ministry of Communications have also undergone reform to reduce bureaucratic red tape. For instance, PUSPAL (Central Agency for Application of Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes) previously took a much longer time to process applications.
'However, following the launch of GPP (PUSPAL Guidelines) 6.0 last April, many processes have been streamlined, especially in organising concerts and managing film productions involving foreign artistes and companies,' he said.
He also stated that the ministry is committed to further intensifying reform efforts across its agencies and statutory bodies, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The Communications Ministry is among the top three ministries recognised for successfully implementing bureaucratic reform and was recently awarded a special commendation for its achievements.
Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, even noted that the ministry's efforts have improved the efficiency of foreign script approvals, reducing processing time from 30 days to seven, which resulted in regulatory cost savings of up to RM2.4 million per production, hence strengthening Malaysia's competitiveness as a preferred international filming destination.
The ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, received the special certificate of appreciation from Shamsul Azri at a ceremony held in Putrajaya on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) were also recognised for their achievements in cutting red tape.
