JUST 1 PERMIT TO SET UP HOTEL INSTEAD OF 15

The New Straits Times, 18 August, 2007.

KUALA LUMPUR : In time to come, setting up a new hotel will require a single permit from the local authority instead of the current 15 needed to commence business.

The Companies Commission is also working on shortening the time taken to register a new business to just one day.

These initiatives are being spearheaded and monitored by Pemudah, a high level task force chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon.

Yong said that while Pemudah was overseeing the task, the respective government agencies had come up with their own client charter with the goal to improve service levels and cut red tape.

Yong added that the positive results of getting a business registered within a day would improve Malaysia 's world ranking on "ease of doing business" in coming years.

Other initiatives outlined include amalgamating the two licences needed to sell liquor at hotel premises to just one and approval for expatriate work permits by the Immigration Department to be reduced to seven days.

While he was happy with the implementation of the initiatives being taken by the various agencies, Yong said there was still room for improvement.

He also said the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) was on track in its aim to shorten the time taken to return excess monies paid by taxpayers between 14 and 30 days.

The IRB, however, is unable to provide details as to when the shorter time frame to repay excess monies will be implemented.

When the New Straits Times called the department, an officer, who refused to be named, said: "With four million taxpayers to deal with and a good number jamming up the system at the last minute, it was difficult to ensure that all excess monies were paid back within the new time frame set".

It is learnt that the IRB is planning to hold a press conference on the issue next week.