Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has introduced a new initiative, namely the renewal of business licenses for up to a maximum of three years from 1 July 2026 as a strategy to strengthen the city's business ecosystem that is more customer-friendly and progressive.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh said the implementation of the initiative is to assist the business community in facing the current economic challenges while providing better certainty in terms of operational planning, financial management and business financing for the medium and long term.
She announced that the new approach of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which allows for the renewal of business licenses for up to three years is in line with efforts to improve the service delivery system that is more efficient, flexible and responsive to the needs of the business community.
She stated that this initiative was introduced to facilitate business transactions in Kuala Lumpur, especially to reduce the annual pressure faced by more than 95,000 licensees in December, which often forces them to use 'runner' services for fear of missing the renewal date.
Through the options provided, licensees can still choose annual renewal, or choose a two- or three-year period if they can afford it.
As an additional incentive, licensees who do not have outstanding compounds or rent arrears with DBKL are eligible to receive a five percent discount on their license fees for a two-year period and a 10 percent discount for a three-year period.
Hannah Yeoh also emphasized that this three-year license not only reduces operating costs and the burden of annual renewal, but also greatly helps traders obtain better financing from financial institutions, as banks are more confident in evaluating businesses with long-term licenses.
Furthermore, it simplifies the affairs of commercial premises tenants, most of whom have three-year rental contracts. Among the categories eligible for consideration for this three-year renewal include office premises, workshops and engineering, other businesses, livestock and agriculture, warehouses, hotels, industrial manufacturing/manufacturing, food and beverage, and trade and business.
This license renewal will use DBKL's upgraded e-License system, promising a very simple, straightforward process, and only requiring about three minutes and 18 clicks to be completed completely.
Premise owners can now print their own licences and make payments online. Although the new system emphasises technology, licence owners who are less IT-savvy are still welcome to come to the DBKL office for assistance and to enjoy the incentives offered. This announcement was made at a press conference at Menara DBKL, in the presence of Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.
