KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Oct (The Star) -- Pemudah, the special task force set up to cut red tape for investors and improve the public delivery system, wants feedback on the changes made in the last eight months.

A Pemudah spokesman said views and suggestions could be submitted via its website at www.pemudah.gov.my.

“We want views and suggestions on how or what can be done further to make it easier for foreign investors to set up business here,” he said.

The initiatives Pemudah has introduced included reducing the new business registration application time from three days to an hour.

The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) has also reduced the application of renewal of business registration from one day to 15 minutes. CCM has also streamlined the application processes and can approve the company name and incorporation in a day.  

“With such a move, foreign investors can start their business here almost immediately,” said the spokesman.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan recently told a press briefing that it was imperative that the delivery system be improved and that the majority of the country’s 1.2 million civil servants wanted to make the change.  

The spokesman said other improvements include getting the Immigration Department to make the process of applying for work passes easier.

“Instead of a 14-day wait, expatriates can now get their work passes within a week.”

He said they could also get their work passes extended from three months to six months in three days.

“Wives of expatriates, who accompany their spouses, would also be automatically given a five-year visa to stay here.”

Pemudah has also set up a Business Licensing Electronic Support Services, a one-stop online channel to streamline and speed up the process of applying for a business licence.

The spokesman said application forms and licences had been made composite for simultaneous application via the channel.

He said tax refund from the Inland Revenue Board has also been made easy. Instead of the refund in a year, taxpayers can now receive it within 14 to 30 days.