Paradise

Various countries are implementing electronic government, including Malaysia. Electronic Government, or known as E-Government was launched since the initiation of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by the Malaysian government. Through E-Government, it will improve in both how the government operates internally and how it delivers services to Malaysian citizens. In the year 2008, there are 2006 MSC Malaysia Status companies. Besides that, more than RM 814 Million is being used as expenses in R&D. Moreover, 52 MSC Malaysia Status Companies listed on the MESDAQ. Malaysia also ranked 34th amongst the 192 United Nation members in using the ICT in UN E-Government Survey conducted in year 2008.

To accelerate the objectives of Vision 2020, Flagship Applications was launched. There are seven Flagship Applications:

1. Electronic Government
2. Multipurpose Card
3. Smart School
4. Telehealth
5. R&D Clusters
6. E-Business
7. Technopreneur Development

One of the project under Flagship is ‘’farmers go digital’’. This project launched in May 2008 and it allowed farmers to sell their produce at pasar tani in a database whereby consumers could access online. Now, these pasar tani has been expanded to cover most of the 273 sites nationally.
Besides that, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, executive officer of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) said that the Education Ministry is extending the smart school programme to another 15 schools in rural place. Out of these 15 schools, 2 schools would be enjoying benefits such as notebooks, wireless Internet connection (WiFi) and wireless digital communication system (WiMAX).

There are 7 pilot projects under the main E-Government:

1. Project Monitoring System (PMS)

2. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)

3. Generic Office Environment (GOE)

4. Electronic Procurement (EP)

5. Electronic Services (E-Services)

6. Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX)

7. E-Syariah

Although E-Government launched about 10 years ago, but only a small number of citizens are using it. Thus, government has to take attention on the citizen’s adoption strategies to improve the level of E-Government.

1. Easy to use
The website should design in a way that makes it easier for every citizen to use or learn, especially for the senior citizens. It should not need to go through many steps in order to use the services in the websites.

2. Availability of info
Government should always keep their websites up-to-date. It must make sure that there is availability of information for citizens to obtain it. It also has to make sure that the info is accurate.

3. Quality of services
In E-Government websites, there should be columns as Frequent Ask Question (FAQ) to meet the needs of citizens. It also should include fax number as well as telephone number.

4. Usage of MyKad
Mykad should use widely other than identity functions. Although some of the citizens can use their Mykad to register under ‘’farmers go digital’’, but Mykad should use as other functions as well.

References:

1.E-Government overview, 7 July 2009, from http://www1.american.edu/initeb/ym6974a/egovernment.htm

2. E-government-Malaysia, 8 July 2009, from http://www.simu.sarawak.gov.my/e_gov.html