KUCHING, Dec 30: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen urges the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to improve its business trade licence registration services.
Upon receiving a complaint from a member of the public who was unable to get an appointment with an LHDN officer to apply for a new business trade licence despite days of waiting, calling and trying, Chong said he and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii visited LHDN’s office here today to find out the reasons.
Chong, who is also the Padungan assemblyman was informed that LHDN could at most handle around 80 applications for new business trade licences per day due to current standard operating procedures (SOP) as Sarawak is under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
Chong lamented that such capacity fell short of the needs of the people especially for a city of Kuching’s scale.
“During this time of pandemic, businesses are already facing very difficult situations. LHDN should facilitate businesses and not make it more difficult for businesses.
“We are grateful that upon our request, the LHDN officer, took immediate steps to help the applicant in her application to apply for a new business trade licence.
“However, this is not the long-term solution to the problem. The system needs to be improved to cater to the needs of the public,” he said in a press statement today.
Chong, who is also the Stampin MP noted that LHDN will implement online registration for new business trade licences in the next few months.
He hoped that the online registration will help resolve the backlog of applications caused by the current reduced work capacity in LHDN.
In the meantime, Chong said Sarawak DAP will continue to monitor the progress for the application for new business trade licences and to ensure that the issue can be resolved the soonest.
At the same time, Chong appealed to those having problems with regards to business registration with LHDN to contact him or Dr Yii for assistance. — DayakDaily
