Appreciation: Fahmi taking a photo with other guests and participants at the FoodPanda Durian Runtuh 2.0 launch at a mall in Kuala Lumpur. More than 300 riders attended the event. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: Efforts are being intensified among several agencies, which include the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to reduce red tape, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister announced this after the ministry was lauded recently for its success in reducing bureaucratic red tape through reforms.
“I have requested that efforts to overcome bureaucratic red tape be further intensified and continued not just within the ministry, but also among other agencies and statutory bodies under it,” he told reporters at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting press conference here yesterday.
One of the key areas under review, he said, was the licence approval process under the MCMC.
He did not divulge further details on the proposed reforms or a time frame for its implementation.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar lauded the Communications Ministry for initiating reforms.
The ministry was among several ministries that were presented with special certificates of appreciation for their achievement in reducing red tape.
The Communications Ministry succeeded in reducing approval time for foreign film scripts from 30 days to just seven. The move resulted in savings of up to RM2.4mil per production.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry was presented with the special certificate of appreciation for speeding up approval times for Electric Vehicle Charging Bay Plan Certifications from 28 days to three.
The Fire and Rescue Department had also received the certificate for expediting approval for non-system-based technical plan certifications from 30 days to seven.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry had, meanwhile, succeeded in facilitating financing in the aerospace sector.
The move helped generate RM17mil regulatory savings for some 50 small and medium enterprises by increasing their production capacity by up to 30%.
Fahmi also revealed that his ministry had succeeded in reducing red tape involving the Central Agency for Application of Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal).
He said the agency used to take some time to process applications.
Fahmi said with the improvement, the application process for concerts and filming were made easier for both local and foreign companies.
Later, the minister said a review would be carried out to improve and reintroduce the p-hailing Rahmah Internet service package, which was offered to e-hailing riders and drivers last year.
Fahmi said he would instruct the MCMC to engage with the country’s e-hailing platform providers to gather their input.
“Last year, we launched the Rahmah p-hailing plan to help riders access more affordable packages.
“I’ve seen some have benefitted from it. I hope users can also provide feedback so we can better understand how to improve it.
“Perhaps, we can work with the telcos and encourage them to offer better rates and packages for riders,” he said when delivering his speech at the FoodPanda Durian Runtuh 2.0 launch at KL Gateway Mall in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported.
On Jan 23 last year, Fahmi announced that p-hailing drivers and riders could enjoy Internet services from as low as RM33 with data plans of at least 40GB as a gesture of appreciation for their contributions.
