Sunday, July 6, 2008

E-Government in Malaysia : Its implementation so far and citizen's adoption strategies


Electronic Government is defined as the use of Internet and other digital devices in public sector to deliver services and information. The adoption of e-government integrates both the processing and the communication technologies since it integrates people, processes, information, and technology in the service of achieving government objectives. By implementing e-government, it will help to improve the government processes, connect citizens and build interactions with and within the civil society.

E-government is started since the initiation of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by Malaysia Government in 1996.E-government has seven flagship applications introduced in MSC. The seven main project that Malaysia has so far implemented system are electronic Procurement (eP), Project Monitoring System (PMS), Electronic Services System (E-services), Human Resource Management Information System(HRIMS), Generic Office Environment (GOE), E-Syariah and Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX).

Common problem encounter by Citizen’s is confusing before advancing the online e-government services over the equivalent paper processes and ensuring the privacy and security because some need to further clarification on what exactly should in the law. Besides, development of E-government has great uncertainty regarding technological change and negative impact because the technological developments are moving very fast; it is very difficult for Citizens to anticipate future impact in detail. Furthermore, some of Citizen’s have the lowest levels of access by digital divide because not all know how to use online access. Thus, these individual will lose the benefits of e-government.

Ways to encouraged citizens to use the government application is to build on a foundation of facts based on information from its citizens. Example, government asking the citizens on what they want rather than doing something that the government want. Second, provide internet access points in convenient places and relevant public places for citizens to use free of charge or promoting the E-Government through newspaper, advertising, magazine, radio.

In order to make the right decision and avoid falling behind, government need to identify and resolve the different issues that have arisen and implementing the good strategies.

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