PETALING JAYA: The Digital Ministry says it has taken note of industry stakeholders' concerns over recent revisions to Employment Pass application guidelines and processing timelines, particularly in the global business services (GBS) sector.
The ministry said the GBS ecosystem remains a key pillar of Malaysia’s digital economy, contributing significantly to investment inflow, high-value job creation and the country’s position as a competitive regional digital hub.
"As such, the ministry views the matters raised with due seriousness," it said in a statement on Sunday (March 29).
The ministry assured stakeholders that the issues are currently under active and comprehensive review, with engagements ongoing involving relevant agencies and industry players.
It said discussions are being held with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), an agency under its purview, to better understand the challenges and identify both immediate interventions and longer-term improvements.
According to the ministry, MDEC has intensified efforts to manage a surge in new application volumes by scaling up its resources to meet rising demand.
The agency is also engaging with key industry associations, including GBS Malaysia – the Digital Global Business Services Council Malaysia under Pikom – and the Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM) to keep stakeholders informed.
The ministry added that it would continue to strengthen inter-ministerial and cross-agency coordination while implementing targeted process improvements to ensure smoother and faster approvals.
"Further updates will be provided as the ministry continues its review and engagement with all relevant stakeholders," it said.
