Other targets include ensuring the public service would operate according to merit-based performance standards, increasing the ethnic diversity in the public service, raising market activity for a competitive economy, instilling a culture of serving with integrity and zero tolerance for corrupt practices.

Pemudah, co-chaired by Sidek and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, was set up to bring about changes to the public delivery system to improve Malaysia's competitiveness. It comprises 13 heads of ministries and 10 business leaders.

Performance details: Sidek and Yong showing a copy of Pemudah's first annual report during the press conference.

The task force's first annual report was also released yesterday.

Sidek said Pemudah would now also address concerns which had an indirect impact on the business environment.

“They include environmental issues which have a direct impact on the friendliness of our places and land matters which have a bearing on the ease of setting up business and homes,” he said.

The other areas included reviewing the approach to the employment of foreign labour and enhancing of domestic human resource development and skills upgrading, he said.

“Another is branding our towns and cities as they influence Malaysia's competitiveness in attracting investments and promoting tourism.”

Sidek said another main area that the private and public sectors must address collectively was the issue of perception.

“From our experience, perception affects our national competitiveness regardless of the sources,” he said.

He added that it could stem from simple things like not answering the telephone or answering them rudely to larger issues like the lack of transparency and accountability.

“In these areas, Pemudah will embark on a communications plan as well as an improved consultative process with all its stakeholders who impact the brand of Malaysia, be it locally or globally,” he said.

Sidek said Pemudah would continue working on five key areas for enhancing the ease of doing business in Malaysia.

They were cross-border trading, registration of property, payment of taxes, enforcement of contracts and the closing of businesses.

On Pemudah's achievements in the past year, Sidek said the annual report showed that the Government's promise on making improvements had “moved beyond rhetoric”.

“We will keep to this winning formula and build on the strength of this collaboration going forward,” he said.

Sidek also pointed out the fact that the private sector had to play its part for Pemudah's goals to be realised.

For example, he said main contractors should commit themselves to paying sub-contractors within a set period since the Government has already made the commitment to pay them within 14 days.

“In a similar vein, we get complaints about the long wait for strata titles. It is becoming evident that some of the delays are contributed by developers who have not done the necessary to facilitate the issuance of the titles,” he said.