Kuala Lampur, June 26 -- DENGKIL, June 26 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all approval processes and bureaucratic procedures at the local authority (PBT) level to be expedited and streamlined to enhance Malaysia's global competitiveness.

To this end, he has directed the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), together with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, to coordinate and strengthen oversight of local authorities to ensure all processes are carried out more efficiently and effectively.

According to Anwar, differences in procedures between municipal councils and city councils have resulted in lengthy approval processes for projects such as housing and factory construction, driving u...