At his speech at the recent UMNO General Assembly, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi touched on PEMUDAH. Further, in a question and answer interview, he also highlighted the various improvements in the delivery system. Here is an excerpt of the interview.

Q: Has the civil service been improved?

A: Some improvements have already taken place. Following the establishment of flying squads, 98 per cent of the backlog of land dealings since 2001 have been cleared.

Now, tax returns can be filed through the Internet and tax refunds for those who use the "e-filing" system are made within 30 days. The issuance of passports and identity cards, which used to take two weeks, is now done within a day. The approval of building plans is now given within 142 days and certificates of completion and compliance are issued within 134 days, a vast improvement on the length of time it took to issue certificates of fitness.

There are clearly weaknesses that must be remedied before we can attain the excellence to which we aspire. But importantly, we are now committed to change and prepared to make the necessary corrections. Improvements will continue to be made to increase efficiency and improve the delivery system. The establishment of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business or Pemudah has had a direct impact in increasing the competitiveness of the business environment.