THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) needs to review the licence application procedure for small traders and hawkers to enable the people to conduct business legally.

With the current burdensome economic situation, the government, especially the Federal Territories Ministry, needs to pay attention to this matter.

To add, DBKL needs to improve the procedure for approving applications and granting licences by shortening the processing period from 30 days to three.

The question is, why the need for such a long period? Why does it take a month for the application to be processed? 

Also, the ministry should be committed to increase innovation by reducing bureaucracy as well as speeding up certain procurement-related processes. Every problem identified by the ministry should be given serious attention to ensure all existing provisions can be implemented effectively and systematically.

We often hear people’s complaints and grievances on the behaviour of civil servants working in ministry departments, where most spend their time working for other purposes. Procrastination, rampant corruption, disrespect for the people, breaking the rules and all sorts of other negative things I do not need to tell here.

Undeniably, a large number of them do help, but due to “extreme” bureaucracy, the people have become victims.

If the minister is careless, it will definitely affect the image and integrity of the entire civil service. Cases of abuse of power under the guise of corrupt practices are still rampant among civil servants.

I would like to suggest to the ministry to change officers or administrative assistants who have been working in a division or unit periodically. When it takes too long, corruption and abuse of power begin.

Advisory board members should be appointed from among the excellent former secretaries-general and deputies, who firmly occupy the position to ensure checks and balances, do not appoint too many political representatives or professionals who are busy taking advantage of colluding with administrative and diplomatic officers to abuse power.

In addition, the mayor should be appointed from among trusted professionals, not just among administrative and diplomatic officers.

The ministry should be held accountable in addressing this problem, in order to clear the increasingly tarnished image and integrity of local authorities due to the actions of a handful of staff who seek personal gain. – July 16, 2022.

* Mahathir Mohd Rais is Segambut Bersatu division chief.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.