Kota Kinabalu: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has called for urgent reforms in the Penampang Municipal Council (MPP).
LDP Treasurer-General Chin Kiang Ming said inefficiency, excessive red tape and lack of responsiveness within MPP are long-standing issues.
Advertisement“For decades, the people of Penampang have struggled with a rigid, outdated and overly bureaucratic system that fails to deliver efficient services. Now that MPP has been upgraded from a district council to a municipality, there is no justification for these inefficiencies to persist.
“One of the most frustrating problems is the trading licence application and renewal process. Despite the introduction of a digital application system years ago, approval times remain excessively long due to unnecessary bureaucracy. While Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) processes applications within two to three days, MPP takes two to three months. If DBKK can do it efficiently, why can’t MPP adopt the same approach?” he questioned.
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“As a result, many applicants continue submitting applications online, only to find their status marked as ‘in process’ when, in reality, their applications are not even being reviewed. This misleading system has left many business owners waiting for approvals that will never come,” he said.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Chin stressed that MPP must take immediate action to rectify this communication failure and ensure that the public is properly informed.
He also criticised the additional certification requirements in the licensing process, calling them unnecessary and burdensome.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Why must an applicant’s MyKad be certified by the National Registration Department (JPN)? Why must company letters be certified by a Commissioner for Oaths?
These additional steps create unnecessary hassle for business owners and raise serious concerns about whether MPP is intentionally making it harder for businesses to operate in Penampang. If DBKK does not impose such excessive requirements, there is no reason for MPP to do so,” he said.
Chin lamented that despite MPP’s elevation to municipal status, there had been no improvement in efficiency.
“The people expected better service, but instead, they continue to face the same outdated bureaucracy and delays. If MPP is serious about its role as a municipal council, it must prove it through action, not just a title change.
“MPP must also improve its approach to public complaints. A responsible local authority should be open to public feedback and willing to make changes for the better. The MPP public complaint hotline must be fully publicised and easily accessible,” he stressed.
Chin emphasised the need for a straightforward complaint submission process, rather than a complicated system that discourages feedback.
“MPP must be brave enough to receive complaints and act on them. If we want to build a better future for Penampang, Kota Kinabalu and Sabah, then local governments must be held accountable. MPP must stop making life difficult for the people and take immediate steps to improve its services,” he said.
He urged those facing difficulties in renewing their trading licences to contact LDP Public Complaint Bureau Chief Jacky Chin for assistance in ensuring their concerns are addressed.