MPC maintains top 10 target on ease of doing business

The Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) has maintained its target of being in the list of top 10 countries in the ease of doing business ranking by 2020.

Director-general Datuk Mohd Razali Hussain said the target can be achieved with the government committed to improving the ranking on the pledge to make further improvements every year, alongside the collaboration from other parties.

"Given our previous experience and focus groups that are now very cohesive in terms of interaction on this matter, as well as looking at other relevant country experiences, we are confident of achieving the top 10 goal by 2020," he added.

He told a media briefing this here yesterday, while sharing the methodology and highlights of the World Bank's 2017 Doing Business Report (DB 2017).

Based on a new methodology, Malaysia is ranked 23rd out of 190 economies in the report, down a notch from its 22nd position last year.

Razali said for example, in respect of the "Starting a Business Indicator", Malaysia's ranking on the DB can improve, following implementation of the new Companies Bill.

"If we are able to execute it (the Bill) by January 2017, than we can show some result by June of the year," he added.

Razali said the MPC is not working alone to achieve the ranking target.

"It is also about the public and private sectors working very closely together, with the help of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah).

"We can further improve in terms of bureaucracy and quality regulation, and grow in the ranking in less than two years' time," he added.

Meanwhile, MPC's deputy director-general Datuk Abdul Latif Abu Seman said the World Bank DB case study was done based on Kuala Lumpur, but people are actually doing business throughout the country.

"What is happening on the ground is what supposedly counts. That's why we have extended initiatives to improve the ease of doing business throughout the country, and not just in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

He said the DB's historical graph shows that Malaysia climbed from 25th spot (in DB 2007) to sixth (in DB 2014).

"Of course, the rules of the game sometimes do change. That doesn't matter. It not so much about numbers, but what is good for the country.

"If we were able to achieve sixth position once, I think we can do it again and need to be diligent at the task," he added. -- Bernama