Introduction

Applying for licences, permits or approvals is part and parcel of running a business, especially when you’re about to start up a new one. Not sure where to begin? Fear not, there’s BLESS to the rescue!

BLESS (short for Business Licensing Electronic Support System) is an online one-stop service centre for companies or individuals who wish to apply for a licence/approval/permit to start a business in Malaysia.

Besides providing information on business licensing in Malaysia, BLESS offers a variety of processing services for the submission, approval and tracking of the issuance of business licences. Centralised information for analysis, future planning and service improvements can easily be obtained through the BLESS portal.

The advantages of BLESS at a glance:
• Lets you apply for more than 100 licences from participating government agencies.
• Features simultaneous processing and updating by respective agencies.
• Provides composite and standardised forms for quicker and easier processing.
• Facilitates online submission, approval, enquiries, tracking and  monitoring.
• Allows you to identify relevant licences required for any business.
• Offers a feedback tool should you require further assistance or encounter a problem.

Business made simple

BLESS is based on the Malaysian government’s service delivery concept of ‘one service, one delivery, no wrong door’ that ensures ease and convenience to all. With its implementation, the following initiatives will be in place to simplify various licence application and submission processes.

1. One-stop centre and online application
   With BLESS, you don’t need to submit your application at various counters of licensing agencies. You can now submit your application from the office or anywhere else just by using your computer. Multiple applications for licence/approval/permit may be submitted simultaneously.
2. Sharing of information between CCM and BLESS
   A company’s profile is entered only once in BLESS when applying for various types of licence/approval/ permit. That simply means you don’t need to fill in this information again and again as these details can easily be accessed from the Companies’ Commission of Malaysia (CCM) automatically. To ensure the accuracy and authenticity of a company’s profile, BLESS has integrated its system with CCM to allow general information on the company’s profile to be transferred automatically to BLESS.
3. Online communication
   BLESS has an online communication platform, so that licensing agencies can communicate directly to applicants for licence application status. This helps save a lot of time and resources for everyone.
4. Online payment
   BLESS also allows you to make payment online via credit card and FPX (direct debit). So you don’t need to go to the counters at the respective licensing agencies to make payment.
5. Improvements in procedures
   With the implementation of BLESS, various procedures have been simplified. For example, you no longer need to obtain a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the local government as the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) will help you obtain the NOL on behalf of your company. The procedures involved in obtaining views from technical government agencies have been simplified and are carried out simultaneously to allow feedback to be obtained within a stipulated time.
6. Online tracking on status of application
   BLESS also lets you track your application’s status and progress online. You will get to know instantly if your application has been processed and whether it has been approved.

The realisation of BLESS

BLESS was launched on 5 September 2008 by then Prime Minister of Malaysia Y.A.B. Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi. Its implementation is spread over three phases. Phase I was completed in June 2009.
The scope for each phase is as follows :

Phase I:Development of the manufacturing, construction and hotel sectors with implementation within the Klang Valley
Phase II:Development of other sectors and integration with agencies’ internal systems
Phase III:Nationwide roll out (except for Sabah and Sarawak)

The implementation of BLESS is expected to be completed by end 2013. Other sectors to be covered under the two phases include the tourism, health, education & training and logistics & distributive trade sectors.

In the future, BLESS will include companies registered under the Registrar of Business (ROB), the renewal of licences/ approvals/permits and the integration of BLESS with the respective agency’s existing systems.

A Step-by-step Guide to BLESS:

To register as a BLESS user:
Step 1: Visit www.bless.gov.my
Step 2: Click on ‘Apply Business Licence Here’.
Step 3: Click on ‘To register with BLESS’.
Step 4: Fill up the registration form.
Step 5: Get the BLESS activation notification email.

To apply for licences:
Step 1: Log in at www.bless.gov.my with your BLESS account ID.
Step 2: Select the licence required using the Submission Module and complete the form.
(The company’s profile will be retrieved automatically in real time from SSM and presented in a pop-up menu)
Step 3: Once the form has been completed, click on the submit button.
Step 4: Applicant will receive notification of approval and information on method of payment via email.
Step 5: After the approval is obtained, the licence will be issued upon payment (if required).