Government makes it easier to obtain business licence

2009/10/08

PORT DICKSON: All local councils in the country have been instructed to make it easy for the people to obtain a business licence so as not to stifle their eagerness to venture into business, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

The government did not want the people to face disappointment at the earliest stage of setting up a business by making it difficult for them to obtain a business licence, he said.

"The local councils have been informed to issue many licences. If there are 1,000 applicants, what's wrong with issuing 1,000 licences? Profit and loss are another matter. The point is we have made it easy for the people to venture into business," he said when addressing entrepreneurs, here. Also present was Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Muhyiddin said it was evident that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had all along encouraged as many people as possible to venture into business.

In the current economic downturn, the government felt that it was necessary to reduce the cost of business and establish places for the people to do business.

"Although there are problems related to traffic, refuse disposal, water supply... we have issued the directive. At a meeting several months ago, I was informed that several tens of thousands of licences had been issued, but the government is permitting the local councils to issue more," he said.

Muhyiddin said the BN had given a relaxation for civil servants to engage in business, something which was not allowed at one time.

"We have allowed this not because their salaries are small but because the cost of living has gone up... their families are growing. They can do business, but not during office hours," he said.

Aid to do business, such as loans with low interest and grants, are also provided by government agencies, with the volume of funds hitting RM22 billion, he said.

"The RM22 billion is for small and medium enterprises, and that's just from the federal government. To encourage the people to venture into business, we have also facilitated and expedited the process of considering approvals," he said.

The opposition parties, in their election campaign, only harped on who were going to heaven and who were not but did not open up the minds of the people to business or development, he said.

"They seem to be not knowing how to develop the people and religion, while we call for a balance in this world and the hereafter," he said.

"As such, in this aspect, the policy of the BN government is in accordance with religion. We want the Malays to take advantage of the opportunities made available through our policies to venture into business," he said.

Muhyiddin said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made fiery speeches but they had little value while the BN "ceramah" (talks) opened the eyes of the people towards being progressive through effort.

"Praying alone does not bring business success. There must be toil, and whatever our product, the customer is important," he said. - BERNAMA