By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 21: The Sarawak government will implement a pilot project starting August 1 to accelerate and simplify the business start-up process as part of its strategy to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to TVS, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian stated that the six-month pilot project will be carried out in the Sibu and Kanowit districts until the end of February 2026.
He said the initiative is spearheaded by the Sarawak Transformation and Innovation Unit (STIU) in the Premier’s Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Sarawak and the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC).
“This project aims to simplify business registration, which previously involved multiple agencies and processes taking more than 60 working days,” he said during a press conference in Sibu today.
Dr Sim explained that the pilot project will consolidate all application procedures—including business name registration, trade licenses, and operational licenses—under a single agency: the local authorities.
“In Sibu, the facility will be set up at the Sarawak Service Centre, UTC Sibu, involving the Sibu Municipal Council and Sibu Rural District Council, while in Kanowit, it will be managed by the Kanowit District Council at a dedicated counter.
“Applicants will only need to fill out a single form that covers all types of applications,” he said.
Under the new approach, he added, the approval time is expected to be significantly shorter—five working days for low-risk businesses (name and trade licenses only), 14 working days for businesses requiring operational licenses, and 30 working days for high-risk categories such as gas sales, entertainment outlets, elder and childcare centres, and reflexology services.
“This initiative is also aligned with the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 (SDB 2030), which emphasises digitalisation of government systems, including online business registration,” he said.
Dr Sim expressed hope that the pilot project would serve as a model for full-scale implementation across the region, ultimately positioning Sarawak as a business- and investor-friendly destination by 2030.
“I call on all involved agencies to give their full commitment to ensure the success of this project,” he said. — DayakDaily
