KPKM’S BUREAUCRATIC RED-TAPE REFORM BOOSTS AGRO-FOOD SECTOR, ENHANCES PRODUCTIVITY

By Mohd Ashraf Syafiq Mazlan

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The implementation of the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has driven the agro-food sector to become more modern, efficient and resilient, benefiting farmers, breeders, fishermen and food-industry players.

The initiative focuses on abolishing outdated procedures while advancing digitalisation, data integration and the automation of work processes, delivering faster, easier and higher-quality government services to the public.

One of the key measures under KPKM’s RKB is reducing the approval period for Padi Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP) payments from four months to two, positively impacting more than 25,000 padi farmers over the last three years.

The Green Priority Lane, introduced by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) in 2024 and covering four main commodities, namely wheat, corn, soybean and livestock feed, recorded RM33 million in demurrage savings.

The initiative also contributed to an increase of RM3.5 billion in the agro-food sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) by ensuring the smooth supply of raw materials to the livestock and food processing industries.

KPKM secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak said the main objective of implementing the RKB was to expedite administrative processes and enhance the efficiency of the ministry’s service delivery system.

“To optimise and simplify administrative processes, the RKB aims to cut unnecessary bureaucracy, restructure existing procedures, and introduce a more efficient system using advanced technology in the agricultural sector,” he told Bernama.

KPKM has registered 40 RKB projects - 25 in 2024 and 15 in 2025 - with 17 institutionalised under the guidance of the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), while the remaining 23 are undergoing improvements and regulatory trials.

“Several other reform projects will also be implemented, including full digitalisation of government assistance applications, automation of work processes to reduce approval times and errors, and shortening the approval period for licences and permits,” the ministry said.

Taking further steps to strengthen the RKB agenda, KPKM is implementing AI-based approval automation to speed up processes, improve accuracy and reduce manual work.

“(Other new steps taken include) the development of an integrated agro-food data ecosystem across multiple ministries to ensure the country’s direction is guided by real-time data and predictive analytics for input demand, weather risks, and potential supply chain disruptions.

“(Also planned is) an integrated national agro-food platform, combining assistance, training, markets, technology and data into a single digital gateway,” said the ministry.

KPKM is committed to ensuring that the RKB represents a comprehensive change, not merely an administrative reform, that modernises government services, elevates the agro-food sector and delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Other RKB initiatives under KPKM that have been implemented include reducing the grain importation approval period from two months to one by the Agriculture Department, and improving Import Permit (IP) conditions for fishery commodities by the Department of Fisheries.

Meanwhile, the director of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Prof. Dr. Anjas Asmara Samsudin, said the KPKM RKB initiative had strengthened stakeholder and public confidence in KPKM’s commitment to the MADANI economy’s success.

He said that the impact of enhancing governance and public service efficiency by reducing bureaucratic red tape was reflected in increased agricultural yields supporting the country’s food resources.

“Shortening the approval period for permits can help curb illegal farms that do not follow good agricultural practices.

“This is important to ensure that agricultural activities producing the country’s food resources are clean and safe for consumption by consumers,” he said.

Anjas Asmara also called on agricultural industry players to leverage new technologies, such as AI, to enhance production efficiency and productivity.

-- BERNAMA