Malaysia Improves Ranking On The Ease Of Doing Business

Kudos to PEMUDAH! 

I am definitely very proud to be associated with PEMUDAH. Being the Secretariat of PEMUDAH is not at easy task. Expectations are high from stakeholders and public at large in order to improve the Government delivery system. The new ranking of Malaysia in the World Bank Doing Business Report shows how much PEMUDAH has managed to improve Malaysia's ranking. But it is very true what the Chief Secretary to the Government said, "..that there was much more work to be done if Malaysia is to move into the top 10 in the near future." 

For me I would also dedicated the success of PEMUDAH to all the government agencies and ministries who have worked tirelessly together with PEMUDAH.

September 10, 2008

Malaysia Improves Ranking On The Ease Of Doing Business

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia improved four ranks to 20th in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Survey 2009 from 24th in 2008 and 25th in 2007.

Malaysia has improved in its ranking throughout the three years, considering that the total number of countries being ranked has increased to 181 in 2009 from 178 in 2008 and 175 in 2007.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said he was encouraged by Malaysia's improved ranking in the survey.

Mohd Sidek, who is also co-chairman of PEMUDAH, the country's special task force to improve Malaysia's business competitiveness, however, stressed that there was much more work to be done if Malaysia is to move into the top 10 in the near future.

Malaysia improved its rankings in four of the 10 indicators, namely getting credit to one in 2009 from three in 2008; dealing with construction permits to 104 in 2009 from 105 in 2008; paying taxes to 21 in 2009 from 56 in 2008; and enforcing contracts to 59 in 2009 from 63 in 2008.

Mohd Sidek reassured that PEMUDAH would continue with the agenda of improving the service quality at all levels especially that of local governments.

The World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Survey 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports co-published by the World Bank and the International Financial Cooperation.

The report investigates the regulations that enhance business activities and those that constrain them.

PEMUDAH was set up on Feb 7, 2007 as a response to the less than stellar ranking in this survey in past years.

Since its establishment 19 months ago, PEMUDAH has succeeded in reducing, if not totally removing, various impediments in the business environment.

PEMUDAH will continue to promote a conducive environment for doing business in the country through streamlining and speeding up government agencies and departments' processes, encouraging on-line applications, enhancing transparency and accountability of the public sector and continuous monitoring of initiatives already undertaken.

-- BERNAMA

Google Aps

Hmmm... I'm trying the google aps now. Looks like there are a lot of interesting functions mainly personalised email, google docs, website and etc. It will take awhile though because I need to link it to my own domain name. 

Overall, the usage of the functions in google aps really simple and easy to follow. I think that is what google is all about. It's all about simplicity. Not many buttons to click on and etc. All back to basic.

Guess that is what life should be. Life should be basic and not so complicated. Why do we want to make our lifes complicated? For the challenges? Or to better ourselves? I guess... complication can be good. But of course, as long as you are able to handle the stress of complications. 

PM Launches One Stop Portal For Business Licenses, Approvals & Permits

Phew! Last weekw as indeed a very busy week. Organising event involving VVIPs is never an easy task. Everything must be perfect and tip to the top! But I'm glad that it all went smooth and well. Of course with a bit of technical glitches here and there involving a laptop, everything else went great. Just that sometimes the pressure of handling big events can make you crack your head. Lucky for me, this is not the first time. Through various experiences managing high level meetings and events while I was in the Cabinet Division of the Prime Minister's Department really helps a lot. 

Anyway, just to share what the event was all about:

September 05, 2008 12:09 PM

PM Launches One Stop Portal For Business Licenses, Approvals & Permits

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today launched the Business Licensing Electronic Support System or BLESS, a one-stop online portal that allows simultaneous application of licenses, approvals and permits for starting a business in Malaysia.

BLESS, which would fast-track business approvals and further improve Malaysia's stature as a business-friendly destination, would be implemented in four phases.

The first phase which begins immediately would be limited to the Klang Valley catering to the manufacturing sector only.

The hotel and construction sectors are slated to follow by the end of the year.

The second phase which begins in July next year would cover all the sectors.

The third and final phase would see BLESS being rolled out nationwide from the middle of 2010 through to 2012, he said at a meeting with the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) here.

Bless is one of the initiatives by Pemudah together with the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department to develop an Internet based system for the application of business licenses.

In moving online, Bless aims to increase the speed, transparency and predictability of starting businesses in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA