Make red-tape reduction a priority, says former KL mayor

Former Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff, has emphasized the importance of reducing bureaucratic red tape to meet the expectations of ratepayers. She believes that innovation in governance can be as simple as streamlining processes, making them more accessible to the public. Maimunah, who previously served as Mayor of Penang Island and Prai, now heads the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) as its Executive Director.

She believes that reducing the number of bureaucratic steps can significantly improve service delivery. For instance, she suggests that instead of 12 steps, processes could be simplified to just six. Maimunah stressed that this does not require advanced technology like Artificial Intelligence, but rather the ingenuity of local government officials.

At a recent roundtable discussion on Local Government in Malaysia: Democratisation, Decentralisation and Accountability, organized by the Penang Institute, Maimunah highlighted the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to enhance efficient governance. She also pointed out that reducing waste collection could save millions of dollars for local councils.

Maimunah reiterated that governance is not solely the responsibility of the ruling government but also lies with local authorities who must serve their constituents daily.