Bandar Kuching MP proposes to extend business trade licence validity period from one year to 2 years

Dr Yii (centre) visiting Inland Revenue Board Kuching today (Jan 5, 2023).

KUCHING, Jan 5: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii proposes to extend business trade licence validity period from one year to two years so that licence holders do not need to return yearly merely just to renew a license. 

This is among one of the proposals he made to the officer-in-charge when visiting the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) today to discuss ways to improve its customer service for the benefit of the public. 

He was given the assurance by the officer-in-charge in Kuching here that registration and renewal will be able to be carried out online by the end of the month, which if properly implemented, will allow the public to do their business registration and other matters online without the need to turn up physically at the counter. 

Dr Yii held that there is an urgent need for LHDN to improve its efficiency in registering and renewal of business trade licences, which is a long-standing problem with multiple complaints from the public received by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak.

“Many also complained of the limited (queue) 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 who have to take time off work to do it, or those that need to travel far just to renew their business license,” he said in a press statement today.

He was informed that currently, LHDN only can give out about 100 queue numbers a day to ensure they can cater and process for that amount of people before they close for the day. 

“The delay is due to LHDN changing 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 (relies on) the old system. 

“The loading of the system (also) caused the delay of renewing the 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 third floor starting tomorrow to specifically process ‘Sdn Bhd’ renewals so that the other renewals and registrations can be done quicker,” said Dr Yii.

He also proposed a proper appointment system for the elderly and the disabled so that they do not have to wait too long to go through the whole process. — DayakDaily