RM2.95bil in compliance costs saved through bureaucratic reforms, says chief sec

Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar revealed that bureaucratic reforms have resulted in an estimated RM2.95 billion in compliance-cost savings through 447 projects under the government's red-tape reform initiative, according to the Borneo Post. Employing a compliance-cost formula developed by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation, the savings were calculated.

Shamsul indicated that next year, an additional 500 bureaucratic reform projects will be undertaken, with the goal of achieving RM2.5 billion in savings. During the Sarawak Integrity Day 2026 celebration in Kuching, Shamsul emphasized that the reforms are part of broader efforts to enhance public service efficiency. He pointed out that Malaysia's improved performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, which has climbed from 34th in 2024 to 23rd in 2025 and 15th in 2026, reflecting the impact of these efforts.

Malaysia currently ranks second in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) only behind Singapore in terms of government efficiency, with its government efficiency ranking improving from 25th to 14th, and its business efficiency ranking rising from 32nd to 16th. Shamsul reiterated that greater efficiency must be rooted in integrity, accountability, and public trust, stressing that integrity extends beyond mere compliance with rules and avoiding corruption.