WORLD BANK: MALAYSIA MOVES UP IN THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

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WORLD BANK: MALAYSIA MOVES UP IN THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

PUTRAJAYA, 4 Nov 2010 - Malaysia moved up to 21^st position in the World Bank Doing Business Report for 2011. This Report, released on 4^th Nov 2010, ranks 183 countries in terms of the ease of doing business. It highlighted Malaysia’s improvements from its 23^rd position in 2010, signalling that the rigorous institutional strengthening in the public and private sectors has led to improvements in the business environment here.

Earlier this year Malaysia made a significant leap in its IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, moving up eight places and became the 10^th most competitive nation in the World.

In responding to the improved World Bank Doing Business Report ranking, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, the Co-Chair of PEMUDAH and the Chief Secretary to the Government said, “Whilst the improvement in this year’s ranking is encouraging, strengthening of our public and private sectors must continue even as rankings improve. We must set new benchmarks in our markets as events of the recent past have shown that even the most competitive of nations suffered significantly from the global economic crisis.”

These improvements in rankings come on the heels of Newsweek magazine’s recent announcement that Malaysia is the 37th Best Country in the world and Legatum Prosperity Index, a London-based analytical centre, ranking Malaysia the 43rd most prosperous nation. In September 2010, Malaysia was ranked 26th on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Competitiveness Ranking. Malaysia’s aggregate score remained fairly stable on this ranking up slightly to 4.88 from 4.87 last year.

It is also important that we take cognisance of the different indicators used in these rankings. The World Bank, The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook each guide us to different indicators for improvements. They do not measure exactly the same areas, Tan Sri Sidek added. “We must assess each ranking in its perspective and not just be transfixed by the numbers. It is imperative that we continue to improve beyond the benchmarks of the countries ahead of us and we should view rise and fall in rankings as an opportunity to institute bold changes in our market. This is the challenge both the public and private sectors must collectively rise up to”, he said.

The World Bank Doing Business Report recognised the initiatives Malaysia has put in place in enhancing its business environment. Specifically the report highlighted the significant improvements in enforcing contracts and that case disposals at the courts are moving considerably faster. Malaysia showed improvements in its on-line procedures for starting a business, speedy registration of properties and notable ease in tax procedures especially with the introduction of online tax submissions. The Report also highlighted that Malaysia ranked second best for importing, while for exporting it cost the least to move a 20ft container.

In echoing Tan Sri Sidek’s comments, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon also the Co-Chair of PEMUDAH added, “The private sector has an enormous responsibility in the making of these rankings. The innovativeness of our industries and the efficiency of service delivery in the private sector must be comparable to global standards. Rankings are not solely dependent on public sector alone. It is a reflection of all market constituents”.

These rankings highlight where Malaysia must place more focus and we must collectively view these rankings as a continual push for Malaysia to be globally competitive, Tan Sri Yong added.

- END -

PEMUDAH

The Special Task Force to Facilitate Business

4 Nov 2010

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Bus crash

Dear Editor,

I read with a heavy heart about the bus crash where seven youths from 4B Baling died and many more got injured. I was aghast when I got to know the bus owner sent an old bus though a new well maintained one was promised and that a person with no CVLB licence was hired to drive the bus.

We continue not to learn from past incidences. We continue to cut corners in the name of a few RM extra profit. We continue to be selfish and careless, not caring about other people but ourselves. And when something happens, then we say we are sorry and we did not know, we did not mean it. did the bus even go for PUSPAKOM testing and pass for roadworthiness?

Where is the management of the bus company? I have not heard or read anything about them apologising or even say anything. Where are the Directors or shareholders/owners of the company? Have they at least visited the victims and their families or even their own bus driver employee in hospital?

I urge the Ministry, RTD and whoever responsible come down hard on these characters. Fine, blacklist them and publish in the papers who these people are. furthermore, for flouting the rules by allowing a non-licences bus driver, they can be considered accomplices to the careless driving.

Apart from all these, the Ministry / Agencies involved must be pro-active rather than reactive. There must be measures to try prevent as much as possible. Enforcement and monitoring are important. Apart from registering drivers and vehicle testing, spot checks must be increased, both at the bus stations and on the road.

All of us who travel on the highway would have seen these buses charging along the highway at a higher speed limit than is allowed. Parliament should pass legislation that buses can only have speedometers to a maximum of 110 km/h. That can be done. Or at least a cut-off / alarm mechanism that not only alerts the bus driver /passengers when the bus is travelling above 90 km/h for example but also cuts off the engine ( if safe).

To put up CCTVs or conduct random highway checks might not be fully effective. Self policing such as that suggested above might be better.

Ahmad Ikmal Ismail

Program 1Malaysia - Malam Kebudayaan

Program 1Malaysia yang telah diadakan di Dewan Orang Ramai Padang Lembu. Malam Kebudayaan ini telah mempamerkan persembahan daripada Melayu, Cina dan India. Ramai yang terdiri dari berbilang kaum telah hadir untuk majlsi makan malam ini . Seronok!

Tarikh - 29 September 2010

Majlis Anugerah Sukarelawan

Majlis Penyampaian Anugerah Wira Sukarelawan Anjuran YB Gurun

Tarikh : 25.09.2010 (Sabtu)

Masa : 08.00mlm

Tempat : Dewan Perpaduan Kg Baru Gurun

Meriah dan dihadiri oleh ramai orang dari pelbagai kaum. Tahniah dan terimakasih tidak terhingga kepada NGO-NGO dan sukarelawan-sukarelawan seperti bomba sukarelawan, St John's ambulance, kumpulan ronda taman (rukun tetangga) dan sebagainya. Merekalah tiang dan tunggak masyarakat, membantu Kerajaan berkhidmat untuk rakyat.

Tahniah dan terimakasih kepada YB DR Leong dan pasukan atas kejayaan majlis ini.

Program Jejak Akar Ramadhan Zon Jeniang 2010

Program Jejak Akar Ramadhan Zon Bedong 2010

Alhamdulillah, Program Jejak Akar Ramadhan Zon Bedong telah dapat dijalankan. Walaupun tidak dapat menziarahi kesemua rumah, namun saya bersyukur daapt menziarahi dan melihat sendiri kehidupan dan keadaan penerima-penerima sumbangan.

Dan terimakasih kepada rakan-rakan yang telah membantu dan berjalan bersama-sama. Moga Allah akan membalas segaal budi dan jasa rakan -rakan semua.