PUTRAJAYA, Jan 23 — As part of the digital transformation effort, the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) aims to collect RM400 million this year via the PBTPay initiative, which will be expanded to 102 local authorities in the Peninsula.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming said PBTPay is the official centralised payment portal for the local authorities, developed by KPKT’s Local Government Department. Currently, over 70 local authorities utilise this platform for various payments, including assessment rates, compounds, and quit rent.
“Since its introduction in 2021, PBTPay has successfully collected RM600 million, and this year, our goal is to achieve a total collection of RM400 million. I view this as one of the key digital transformations which the ministry will further intensify.
“We have a total of 155 local authorities. In Sabah and Sarawak, we encourage using PBTPay, even though they have their own ordinances. Nevertheless, we will enhance our efforts by inviting Sabah and Sarawak to participate, aiming to streamline public matters,” he said.
Nga was speaking to the press after delivering his New Year message to KPKT staff in a hybrid ceremony today.
Also present were his deputy Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu and KPKT secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib.
In his speech, the minister emphasised that KPKT’s leadership philosophy of the community is rooted in the Rukun Negara principles, underscored by the taglines #strongertogether, #unityindiversity, and #demipertiwi, and this philosophy would continue to be reinforced at every level within the ministry.
The people’s well-being, particularly by constructing affordable homes and developing new models for public housing programmes, remains a key focus for KPKT this year, in addition to efforts towards enhancing infrastructure facilities for the public’s convenience.
Nga said 5,196 public infrastructure projects were successfully completed in 2023, and in 2024, the ministry aims to implement no fewer than 5,000 projects with a RM784 million allocation.
In order to improve local government functionality, there is a targeted implementation of One Stop Centre (OSC) 3.0 Plus in urban and municipal councils, involving 30 local authorities.
The OSC Online is an electronic system for submitting and processing development control applications involving applicants like urban planners, architects, and engineers.
In addition, he said the ministry will enforce a ban on tree felling in line with sustainable environmental principles unless it poses a threat to public safety, while the ‘BMW’ toilet initiative focuses on creating clean, charming, and fragrant restrooms, which will be intensified.
— Bernama
