Measures to improve Malaysia's delivery system soons

[ 30-08-2006 ]

Measures to improve Malaysia's delivery system soons

Measures to improve Malaysia's delivery system soons

August 12 2006

THE Government will soon announce specific measures
to help overcome delivery issues that have
threatened Malaysia's competitiveness as an
attractive investment destination.

"We may be okay in terms of fundamentals, but not in
the higher list of competitiveness where we should
also have an edge, such as response time to
approvals, permits, and immigration," said Minister
in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Sri Effendi
Norwawi yesterday.

"These are issues that we must deal with now as they
are urgent," he told a media briefing in Putrajaya
after chairing a dialogue session with renowned
economist Professor Jeffrey D.Sachs.

Sachs has advised Governments in Latin America,
Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and
Africa on economic reforms.

Effendi said the Malaysian Administrative
Modernisation and Management Planning Unit has
identified some of the lengthy processes, including
permits and licences to set up factories and hotels.

"This is now under review of the National
Implementation Directorate and our private sector
investment panel is studying this to come up with a
reform strategy soon. It is urgent and has to go
along with the Third Industrial Masterplan (IMP3),"
he added.


The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority
(Mida), meanwhile, will be strengthened to ensure
that it is an effective enabler for the IMP3, which
is expected to be launched by the Prime Minister
next week.

"Priority for Mida will be on knowledge-based
investments. We have to ensure there is supporting
infrastructure by stepping up quality manpower
training in our education system as companies look
to countries that provide the best skilled manpower
supply.


"We also have to look at our research and
development (R&D) capability and increase our
investment in R&D, which now stands at 1 per cent of
gross national product, compared with 3-4 per cent
in developed nations," he said.