Latest news with #RKB
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak aims to streamline petrol station construction for economic growth
KUCHING: Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) Sarawak is working to speed up and simplify petrol station construction processes. This initiative supports the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform Programme (RKB). MPC Deputy Director-General Dr Mohammad Norjayadi Tamam stated that reducing regulatory hurdles will attract investment and enhance productivity. 'A smoother process will improve fuel access in rural areas and create job opportunities,' he said. He added that these improvements will foster a transparent and competitive investment environment. A two-day engagement session was held to identify inefficiencies in petrol station approvals. The session aimed to eliminate overlapping procedures and draft high-impact solutions for faster processing. MPC expects streamlined approvals to accelerate energy infrastructure development. Benefits include lower costs, shorter waiting times, and expanded fuel coverage in strategic areas. 'This project will serve as a model for improving other development permits in Sarawak,' the agency said. The initiative could attract more domestic and foreign investment by ensuring stable energy supply. MPC hopes this effort will strengthen investor confidence in Sarawak's economy. It also aligns with Malaysia's goal to rank among the top 12 most competitive nations by 2030. - Bernama
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia saves RM873.5 million annually with 97 bureaucratic reforms
PUTRAJAYA: The MADANI government's push to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies has achieved significant results, with 97 Bureaucratic Reform Projects (RKB) under the Public Service Reform Agenda (ARPA) saving RM873.5 million annually in compliance costs. The Special Taskforce on Agency Reform (STAR) confirmed the savings following its latest meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The reforms have streamlined processes for businesses and the public while enhancing national productivity. Four ministries received recognition for high-impact projects. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) digitised aid approvals, the Ministry of Works (KKR) reduced tender evaluations from 35 to 18 days (saving RM1.1 million yearly), and the Ministry of National Unity (KPN) slashed Rukun Tetangga application processing from 90 to 30 days. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) shortened vehicle approval times in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan from five days to one, saving RM160,000 annually and boosting local tourism. STAR also discussed strategic initiatives, including curbing livestock smuggling at the Malaysia–Thailand border and drafting a new Cooperative Act. Updates were shared on the ILTIZAM Government Service Efficiency Act and the Public Service Performance Index. Shamsul Azri praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent public-friendly announcements, including RM100 cash aid, reduced RON95 prices for subsidy recipients, and an extra Malaysia Day holiday. He urged ministries to ensure swift implementation for maximum public benefit. – Bernama
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia leaps 11 spots to 23rd in IMD world competitiveness list for 2025, best since 2020
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has jumped 11 places to 23rd in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, marking its best performance since 2020. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the leap is attributed to significant improvements in economic performance, government efficiency and business efficiency, primarily driven by productivity reforms and trade diversification. 'Our efforts have paid off. We are determined to maintain this momentum through the RKB (Regulatory Reform) initiatives and strategic policy execution,' he said during the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry's (Miti) second-quarter report card today. Tengku Zafrul said one standout case is the Kulim Fast Lane/Fast Track project, a bureaucratic reform initiative using artificial intelligence (AI) and a centralised database to expedite business permits. As a result, immediate leases were issued just one hour after compliance clearance and project approvals were reduced from 24 months to 10 months. This fast-tracking helped raise total investment in the project from RM50.1 billion in 2020 to RM192 billion in 2024, representing a 74% increase. 'This is what we mean by results from reforms,' said Tengku Zafrul. 'Reduced bureaucracy is not just about speed, it drives real growth, jobs and investor confidence.' Under Miti's Good Regulatory Practises Framework, 807 regulatory reform projects have been registered to date, with RM374 million in cost savings recorded from completed initiatives as of June 2025. The ministry is targeting up to RM1.5 billion in cost savings by the end of the year. Miti also announced that, effective May 6, only the ministry will issue Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin for exports to the United States, streamlining export documentation. In a move to safeguard national security and uphold responsible trade, all exports, transit and transshipment of high-performance AI chips now require Strategic Trade Permits, as of Monday, under the Strategic Trade Act 2010. Further, the report showed Malaysia has signed 18 free trade agreements (FTA) covering 28 countries, with the most recent being the Malaysia-EFTA Economic Partnership Agreement on June 23. Miti noted that many exporters are unaware of FTA benefits. 'We are scaling up outreach and have allocated RM50 million in market development grants (MDG), with a RM22.7 billion export target for 2025–2026,' Tengku Zafrul said. Between January and June alone, MDG recipients recorded RM2.88 billion in reported export sales, with RM2.09 billion potentially realised. Malaysia's digital economy saw RM310.7 billion in approved investments between 2021 and Q1 2025, generating 92,058 jobs, largely in data centres, which Miti estimates have a 6.6x economic multiplier effect. 'For every ringgit spent on data centres, the economy gains RM6.60. This is the kind of return that fuels national resilience,' Tengku Zafrul noted. Miti-led missions to countries including the US, the UK, Singapore and India have generated RM25.6 billion in potential investments and RM30.08 billion in potential exports in the first half of 2025. Green investments under the Green Investment Strategy reached RM22.9 billion in Q1 2025, with 1,492 approved projects in renewable energy, green mobility, and circular economy sectors. Foreign investments made up 53.7% of the total. From 2021 to Q1 2025, Malaysia approved 3,494 manufacturing projects, with 3,095 implemented, achieving an 86.4% realisation rate. Employment in the sector rose by 50,000 in Q1 2025 alone. Median wages grew by 5.4% year-on-year to RM2,745, while GDP value-added from manufacturing increased RM3.8 billion to RM95.7 billion. Miti's NIMP 2030 initiative to advance economic complexity is also progressing. Five local IC design firms have been established, and RM52 billion in semiconductor-related investments have been secured. The Smart Tech-Up programme now supports up to 80 smart factories by 2025. Investments in chemical and related sectors soared by 105.1% year-on-year in Q1 2025, reaching RM479.26 billion, up from RM233.68 billion. Foreign direct investment alone surged by 174.4%. On the domestic automotive side, Miti report noted that Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) is on track to launch its first electric vehicle by end-2025. Meanwhile, the MARiiCAS e-bike rebate programme, under Budget 2025, has approved 11,724 applications worth RM28.14 million to support low-carbon mobility. Down south, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone accounted for 90.4% of Johor's total approved investments in Q1 2025, totalling RM30.14 billion, with a majority in the services sector. Miti has also ramped up efforts to build supply chain resilience through cross-ministerial cooperation and the upcoming Supply Chain Intelligent Management System, set to go live in December. 'In a time of geopolitical tension and resource shocks, we must digitise, diversify and cooperate to safeguard economic security,' Tengku Zafrul emphasised.
Barnama
24-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia's Leap In WCR 2025 Underpinned By Public Service Reforms
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's improved standing in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) 2025 is underpinned by a strong institutional reform framework driven by the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said among the key initiatives is the Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR), which he chaired this morning, attended by all secretaries-general and heads of services. 'During my meeting at the IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland last year, I explained how Malaysia's public service is implementing service delivery reforms swiftly and decisively. 'This is manifested through the STAR team at the operational level, which has successfully coordinated over 1,000 bureaucratic red tape reform (RKB) projects nationwide,' he said in a Facebook post today. He said for instance, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) now uses artificial intelligence (AI) to approve building plans within a day, down from the previous 14 days. 'In Kedah, land development applications that used to take over a year can now be resolved within three months through the Land Approval Guarantee Management Initiative (iUJKT) platform. 'At the Works Ministry, approval time for building materials has been shortened from 30 days to 14 days, and many other red tape reduction projects are actively underway,' he said. Shamsul Azri expressed confidence that with the strong commitment of all parties involved, Malaysia will continue to excel in global competitiveness rankings in the years to come. The latest WCR 2025 report shows Malaysia rising 11 places from 34th in 2024 to 23rd position, marking the country's best performance since 2020.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Govt reform agenda progressing consistently, not mere rhetoric
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims that the reformasi agenda is not progressing are unfounded, as it is moving forward consistently. Senior press secretary to the Prime Minister, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said the reformasi agenda is not something to be implemented overnight or merely expressed in statements, but rather is being executed through structured actions. 'Since the start of the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) administration, he has emphasised that the MADANI Government will always listen and stay open to constructive criticism. 'This stance is reflected in action. Every criticism is viewed as an opportunity for improvement. Today's successes mirror that approach,' he said. Tunku Nashrul said this during the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) daily briefing, broadcast live on both Anwar Ibrahim's and the PMO Malaysia's Facebook pages today. Tunku Nashrul said that, as outlined by the Prime Minister through the MADANI Economy Framework, the main goal is to elevate the nation's economic potential, enhance its capacity, and ensure the well-being of its citizens. He added that Malaysia's rise of 11 places to the 23rd rank in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, up from 34th place last year, is due to the MADANI Government's sustained commitment and comprehensive implementation via a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. He said this is the country's best performance since 2020, proving that economic and bureaucratic reforms are yielding results and that the MADANI Economy Framework is keeping the country's economy on the right track. 'This achievement also reflects the collective efforts to strengthen fiscal policy, simplify business processes, and accelerate public service delivery reforms, including over 1,000 initiatives under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB). 'For example, the national bureaucracy perception index has jumped 22 positions, a clear signal that reforms are delivering real results, not just at the national level but also with international recognition,' he said.
