Kuala lumpur: Ongoing efforts to enhance the Guidelines for Foreign Participation in Malaysia's Distributive Trade Sector will incorporate stakeholder input and global best practices. Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, emphasized the importance of this initiative in maintaining relevant, competitive, and impactful policies while protecting the sustainability of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a Special Task Force on February 6, led by the Ministry of Finance, to outline specific improvement measures. The committee is tasked with identifying enhancements in policies, legal frameworks, monitoring, and enforcement to mitigate concerns over the potential dumping of foreign goods in the local market.
Additionally, Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan announced that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the East Coast Expressway Phase 3 (LPT3) project will be finalized this year. The project will proceed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) via competitive bidding, without requiring government funding. Initial studies suggest that the LPT3 will cover 122 kilometers, connecting Kampung Gemuroh in Terengganu to Tunjong in Kelantan, complementing the existing LPT1 and LPT2 networks for improved travel along the East Coast.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib reported that 412 health clinics nationwide are now equipped with the Clinical Management System (CCMS) cloud computing system, enhancing the management of patients' digital medical records. The goal is to digitalize 137 more clinics this year, with full implementation across the remaining 848 clinics targeted by the end of 2027. This initiative aims to improve operational efficiency, strengthen data governance, and reduce reliance on manual record-keeping as part of a broader Digital Medical Record (EMR) integration plan initiated in 2024.
In workforce development, Deputy Human Resources Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan stated that the ministry is reviewing a proposal to fully digitalize the foreign worker application process. This aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan's target to reduce foreign workers to 10 per cent by 2030 and five per cent by 2035. Stakeholder engagement will continue to balance industry needs with the protection of the local workforce.
The Ministry of Defence also participated in the debate today, while the Dewan Negara session is scheduled to continue tomorrow.