Govt committed to putting business applications online and cutting red tape, says Hannah Yeoh

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said unnecessary procedures will be eliminated to ease the administrative burden on businesses, ensuring greater time, and cost efficiency while significantly reducing room for corruption. — Bernama pic

First Published: Saturday, 26 Sep 2026 10:03 AM MYT

PETALING JAYA, Sept 26 — The government is actively reviewing processes and systems to fully transition business applications online so that entrepreneurs no longer need to spend unnecessary time chasing officers for status updates.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said unnecessary procedures will be eliminated to ease the administrative burden on businesses, ensuring greater time, and cost efficiency while significantly reducing room for corruption.

Speaking at the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Installation and 34th Anniversary Night, Hannah said that if businesses are expected to adapt and improve, the government must also be willing to enhance its own delivery systems.

“I may not have the money to put cash in your hands, but I promise to review and cut out corruption, to cut out unnecessary processes so that you can save money and time, and make business easier for everybody. You have enough challenges dealing with the online business and global trend,” she said here yesterday.

She noted that practical administrative changes have already been implemented to provide business owners with more certainty.

For instance, Hannah said eligible Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) business licences can now be renewed for up to three years, and businesses opting for a two-year renewal will receive a five per cent discount, while a three-year renewal comes with a 10 per cent discount.

To further encourage the entertainment and events sector in Kuala Lumpur, Hannah said the deposits for concerts and local shows have been significantly slashed by 70 per cent.

Touching on the evolving retail landscape, she urged physical retailers to adapt to shifting consumer behaviours by transforming malls into community hubs that offer dynamic food, culture and entertainment experiences.

She pointed out that giving consumers compelling reasons to visit and stay is crucial, especially as online shopping becomes increasingly dominant.

Hannah also advised traditional businesses to consider employing younger talent to help them digitalise, noting that both the youth and senior citizens are now highly active on e-wallets and online purchasing platforms. — Bernama