There is urgent need for Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to improve its efficiency in registering and renewal of business trade licenses.
This has been a yearly problem with multiple complaints from the public received by us due to the inconvenience and long-waiting hours experienced by the public. Many also complained of the limited numbers that was given out daily.
Many had no choice but to return a few times on different days just to get it settled. This caused much inconvenience to those that has to take time off work to do it, or those that need to travel far just to renew their business license.
In my visit to LHDN this morning together with my special assistant Mr. George Lam, I am grateful the LHDN officer-in-charge took the time to see us and discuss ways to improve customer service for the benefit of the public.
We were informed that currently they only can give out about 100 numbers a day to ensure they can cater and able to process for those amount of people before they close for the day.
The delay is due to LHDN changed their system of renewing trade license for Sole Proprietorship, Enterprise and business registration to the new system while the license renewal system for “Sdn. Bhd” still the old system. The loading of the system caused the delay of renewing trade license.
We discussed with them how to improve this system on top of them ensuring that more counters will continue to be open, they also assure us that they will open up the 3rd floor starting tomorrow to specifically proceed “Sdn. Bhd.” renewals so that the other renewals and registrations can be done quicker.
On top of that, we proposed a proper appointment system for the elderly and OKU so that they do not have to wait too long to go through the whole process.
A longer-term solution was needed in addressing the root of the problem and the current system need to be improved to cater to the needs of the public.
In my last visit here to LHDN we were informed that the LHDN will implement registration online in the next few months, which was delayed until today.
The officer in charge has given us the assurance that such system will be open to public by end of the month
which, if properly implemented, allows the public to do their business registration and all online without need to turn up physically at the counter.
This can help with the congestion and also make it much more convenient for the public.
On top of that i believe there is a need ro reform, and even prolong the licensing renewal period to maybe once in 2 years so that they do not need to return yearly merely just to renew a license.
We also raised the issue of the spoiled escalators in the building and how it has been an inconvenience to the public especially elderly.
Meanwhile we will continue to monitor the progress of the recommendations as well as the implementation of the online registration to ensure the issue at hand can be resolved.