By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 28: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has urged the federal government to introduce an online trade licence application system, saying it is time to stop burdening the public with outdated and inefficient processes.
When debating Budget 2026 in Parliament today, Chong highlighted the long-standing issues faced by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) Kuching branch, which handles the issuance and renewal of trade licences.
He said the branch had been struggling for years with serious capacity problems in processing applications, forcing applicants to queue as early as 6am just to obtain a number for submission when officers start work at 8am.
“Those who arrive around 7am often find that all the queue numbers for the day are already taken, meaning they must return another day. This has become a daily struggle for small traders who simply want to comply with the law,” he said in his text speech.
Chong said the situation has greatly inconvenienced members of the public who wish to operate their businesses legally, with many resorting to trading without a licence or failing to renew theirs just to sustain their livelihoods.
He questioned the Ministry of Finance over the root cause of the long-standing issue and urged the government to address it urgently.
“How does the government plan to resolve it? We are now in the digital age. The government should introduce an online trade licence application system instead of continuing to burden the public in this way,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
