NST Online: Topnews

Govt to remove healthcare, education, legal sector restrictions

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 08:01 PM PDT

Govt to remove healthcare, education, legal sector restrictions

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will liberalise the top services sector namely healthcare, education and business services in phases, among others, by removing restrictions to foreign equity participation.

The phased liberalisation will be based on its current and potential contribution to the Gross National Income (GNI).

The liberalisation comes under the International Standards and Liberalisation Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRIs), which is among the six SRIs announced here today.

Currently, the services sector contributed about 57 per cent to Malaysia's economy compared with between 70 per cent and 80 per cent for developed countries.

The following are the recommendations for the three sectors to be implemented in phases:

For Healthcare:

*Remove restrictions to foreign equity participation in the setting up of specialised private hospitals with a minimum number of beds.
*Relaxing entry restrictions for foreign specialists such as doctors and dentists.

For Education:
*Gradual relaxation of foreign equity restrictions in international schools while maintaning guidelines to ensure quality and standard of education institutions.
*Extending teaching permits' validity up to five years.

For Business Services (Professional Services)
*Remove equity restrictions for accounting, legal and engineering services.
*Relaxing entry conditions for foreign lawyers, engineers and architects to work in Malaysia.

The government will also work towards improving the quality of Malaysia's goods and services as well as improve access to international markets. -- BERNAMA

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Govt to remove healthcare, education, legal sector restrictions

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82pc of EPPs have commenced operations: Idris

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 07:14 PM PDT

82pc of EPPs have commenced operations: Idris

Idris Jala, chief executive officer of Malaysia's PEMANDU (Performance Management & Delivery Unit), presents his report during the Economic Transformation Programme Update in Kuala Lumpur July 5, 2011.

"The overall ETP progress to date is outstanding. 65 Entry Point Projects have been announced with an investment commitment of RM170 billion. The projected Gross National Income is RM220 billion while over 360,000 new jobs will be created.

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 82 per cent of the entry point projects (EPPs) initiatives have started operations with the remaining 18 per cent in various stages of work-in-progress.

"We are on track to achieve our GNI, investment and creation of new jobs target by 2020," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala at the seventh Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) update here today.

The ETP is driven by 12 National Key Economic Areas focusing on various industries with 131 EPPs outlined by the government in a bid to transform the nation's economy. -- BERNAMA

Isnin, 4 Julai 2011