{
  "id": 10236333,
  "title": "NST Leader: Digitalise business licences, but don't digitise red tape",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/nst-leader-digitalise-business-licences-but-dont-digitise-red-tape",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T15:03:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/leaders/2026/09/1542494/nst-leader-digitalise-business-licences-dont-digitise-red-tape"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When entrepreneurs seek business licences, they must register their companies, identify necessary permits, and submit various documents to appropriate authorities. This process requires company registrations, personal identification, tenancy agreements, sale and purchase agreements, floor plans and photographs of the business premises. Applications need approval from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka for signboard language and clearance from the Fire and Rescue Department for high-risk premises. If employees are hired, registration with the Employees Provident Fund and the Social Security Organisation is also required. Upon payment of licensing fees, the process usually takes seven to 21 working days, depending on site inspections. Bureaucratic delays and financial pressures add to the burden of entrepreneurs' efforts.\n\nTo address these concerns, the Malaysian government plans to digitise the business application process. This move aims to streamline time-consuming follow-ups, reduce room for corruption, and eliminate unnecessary steps in the application procedure. Minister Hannah Yeoh of the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) has also pledged to cut down on or eliminate corruption and redundant processes.\n\nWhile digitalisation is the ultimate goal, it should not be seen as a replacement for existing bureaucratic procedures. Entrepreneurs need a quick, intuitive, reliable, and smartphone-friendly system with clear information, transparent processing timelines, and precise tracking. Above all, the government should avoid creating digital versions of red tape and ensure seamless interoperability among different government licensing authorities. This approach would eliminate the need to submit identical documentation and information to multiple departments.",
  "summary": "IN applying for business licences, entrepreneurs must register their companies, identify required permits and submit documents to the proper authorities.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian government plans to digitize business application process.",
    "Hannah Yeoh pledges to cut corruption and redundant steps.",
    "Avoid creating digital versions of red tape, ensure interoperability."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}