Agencies to work as one

The Star 13/06/2003

KUALA LUMPUR: All state governments and local authorities will set up one-stop agencies to handle applications for building plans and certificates of fitness for occupation (CFO) as part of the Federal Government’s recently announced stimulus package. 

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the guidelines on this, as well as other measures to standardise and improve the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of local government services, would be issued to them soon. 

“The guidelines are in addition to those issued two years ago requiring local authorities to approve building plans in 12 weeks and CFOs within 14 days,” he told a press conference after launching the Supreme Red Hot World Card loyalty and discount card yesterday. 

Ong said for CFO applications, the guidelines would require all agencies to give their clearance within four weeks of application.  

Under current requirements, housing developers have to obtain clearance from seven agencies before applying for CFOs from the local authorities. 

The agencies are Tenaga Nasional, Telekom Malaysia and the Waterworks, Public Works, Fire and Rescue, Drainage and Irrigation, and Town Planning Departments. 

The guidelines, he said, would also prohibit agencies from asking for extra payment as a condition for issuing clearance certificates due to problems with the developer. 

Under the one-stop agency system, Ong said applications would be brought before a committee, chaired by the local authority's president or mayor, where representatives of those agencies would be present to give their approval. 

“Similarly, at the state government level, such meetings should be chaired by the state secretary with representation from all relevant agencies. Only complicated issues would require the Mentri Besar or Chief Minister to be present,” he said. 

“Approvals will no longer depend on the discretion of officers. It will also cut down opportunities for corruption and abuse of power,” he said. 

He said the guidelines were drawn up in consultation with state governments, local authorities, relevant government agencies and industry players.  

He added that there would be continuous monitoring to ensure the guidelines were implemented. 

Ong said his ministry was discussing with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to see whether laws including the Federal Constitution, could be amended to make employment with local authorities a state service, allowing the transfer of non-performing employees.  

Currently, the service is “closed” as officials can only be promoted within their own local authorities. 

The ministry, he said, was also looking at issuing guidelines on public toilet designs to ensure that specific requirements of different groups of users were met.