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

E-government (also known as electronic government) is a diffused neologism used to refer to the use of information and communication technology to provide and improve government services, transactions and interactions with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.

Many countries are implementing e-government including Malaysia. The implementation of e-government started since the initiation of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by the Malaysia Government in 1996. It has improved both how the government operates internally as well as how it delivers services to the people of Malaysia. In addition, it seek to improve the convenience, accessibility and quality of interactions with citizens and businesses, at the same time, it will improve information flows and processes within government to improve the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement.

“Roadmap for a tech enabled government” is one of the visions of Malaysia Vision 2020. The vision focuses on effectively and efficiently delivering services from the government to the people of Malaysia, enabling the government to become more responsive to the needs of its citizens.

There are 7 pilot projects of the Electronic Government Flagship Application:

1. Project Monitoring System (SPP II)
2. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
3. Generic Office Environment (GOE)
4. Electronic Procurement (EP)
5. Electronic Services (E-Services)
6. Electronic Labour Exchange (ELCX)
7. E-Syariah

Government-to-Citizens

The Government-to-Citizen (G2C) relationship refers to services provides to fulfill citizens’ needs. Citizens seek more reliable and accessible services from the public sector. This implies that citizens should be able to carry out variety of tasks that involves multiple agencies, from a single access point. Increased interactions between government and citizens encourage citizens to become more participative thus allowing the government to respond to their needs more effectively. This category of relationship desires electronic services and infrastructure.

The myGovernment portal (http://www.malaysia.gov.my) acts as one-stop source of Malaysian government information and services for the citizens. Below are some online access services provided by government to citizens:

• Electronic driver’s license issuance and renewal
• Integrated passport and visa processing
• Electronic tax payment and processing
• Smart traffic fine payment
• Electronic road tax and vehicle registration
• Electronic EPF/SOCSO management
• Easy employment licensing/permitting
• Electronic IC renewal
• Electronic quit rent processing and payment
• Smart commercial vehicle licensing/permitting
• Electronic pension processing
• Integrated low cost housing management
• On-line consumer information
• On-line health information
• Electronic public complains information
• Electronic school/higher education registration
• Electronic polling/survey

There are some recent surveys about e-government adoption in Malaysia, stated that the usage of e-government service is growing but at a small pace. In 2003, only 15% of Malaysian has used the Internet to access online government services compared to 12% in year 2002. In addition, there are some challenges faced by government in adoption of e-government services. The main challenge in e-government in Malaysia is the technological change, which includes issues such as standards, data integration, legacy maintenance and privacy and security. The key priority is to improve the core government applications and integrating more services across agencies. Simultaneously, market the e-government services to the public and businesses.

Related Links:

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electronic Government in Malaysia

Implementation of electronic government in Malaysia: the status and potential for better services to the publicMalaysian

Electronic currency

Introduction

Electronic currency, or e-currency, is an approach of trading currencies electronically through brokerage account. E-money, electronic cash, electronic money, digital money or digital currency are some of the terms of e-currency. Examples of e-currency are Electronic Fund Transfer and direct deposit. Electronic Fund Transfer is type of computer-based system to conduct financial transaction through online. Direct deposit is an electronic transfer of a payment directly from the account of the payer to the payee. E-currency was officially accepted in 1999 by the countries of the European Union to simplify business by eliminating the exchange rates.

Advantage

E-currency allows people to make money on the Internet using their personal computer. E-currency allows people to start business or trading electronically with low cost. It only needs as low as few dollars to start e-currency trading or do business. It is suggested to the beginners that they should start with few dollars investment so that they can learn how the e-currency works. It depends to you whether you want to increase the investment. You will not spending too much on investment as the e-currency gave many chances to earn money.

Besides, banks offering many services whereby a customer can transfer funds, purchase stocks, contribute to their retirement plans and offer a variety of other services without having to handle physical cash or cheques. Customers do not have to wait in lines and this provides a lower-hassle environment. In addition, debit card and online bill payments allows immediate funds transfer of funds from an individual’s personal account to a business account without any actual paper transfer of money.

Disadvantage

Although there are some benefits of e-currency, there are also many significant disadvantages. These include fraud, failure of technology, possible tracking of individuals and loss of human interaction.

Fraud over digital cash has been a pressing issue in recent years. Hacking into bank accounts and illegal retrieval of banking records has led to a widespread invasion of privacy and has promoted identity theft.

There is also a pressing issue regarding the technology involved in digital cash. Power failures, loss of records and undependable software often cause a major setback in promoting the technology.

Privacy questions have also been raised; there is a fear that the use of debit cards and the like will lead to the creation of a global tracking system by the banking industry. Some people are working on anonymous e-cash to try to address this issue. The issue of providing anonymity to users itself introduces more problems, however; there is the distinct possibility that a fully anonymous digital cash system could permit the "perfect crime" - i.e., where a criminal uses someone else's electronic cash to make a payment, but cannot be traced - to occur. For this reason, 'revocable anonymity' is a suggested solution: a user is fully anonymous until they commit some crime, at which point authorization is given for their identity to be revealed. However, critics of this policy point out that the anonymous users will never be caught and held trial (thus their identity will never be revealed) without tracing.

Future evolution

The main focuses of digital cash development are 1) being able to use it through a wider range of hardware such as secured credit cards; and 2) linked bank accounts that would generally be used over an internet means, for exchange with a secure micropayment system such as in large corporations (PayPal).

Furthering network evolution in terms of the use of digital cash, a company named DigiCash is at the focus of creating an e-cash system that would allow issuers to sell electronic coins at some value. When they are purchased they come under someone’s own name and are stored on his computer or under his online identity. At all times, the e-cash is linked to the e-cash company and all transactions go through it, so the e-cash company secures anything that is purchased. Only the company knows your information and will properly direct purchases to your location.

Theoretical developments in the area of decentralized money are underway that may rival traditional, centralized money. Systems of accounting such as Altruistic Economics are emerging that are entirely electronic, and can be more efficient and more realistic because they do not assume a zero-sum transaction model.

Below are selected e-currency companies:

1. E-bullion - e-Bullion® is electronic bullion: international electronic currency fully backed by physical precious metals stored on behalf of account holders in Treasury Grade bullion storage facilities.
2. E-gold - The leading e-currency payment systems backed by physical gold.
3. Liberty Reserve - Liberty Reserve is an online payment system and provider of digital gold currency (LR-gold)
4. Moneybookers – Wallet for Internet which allows people to shop and send money worldwide.
5. Pecunix - Digital currency operator. Pecunix is backed by gold, and offers an advanced and secure API for merchants and users.

Related Links:

Benefits of E-Currency Trading
Electronic Currency Trading
Electronic Money
Lists of Online Payment Systems and Credit Card Merchants
Overview Electronic money

How to SAFEGUARD our personal and financial DATA

Nowadays, computer and Internet become needs of people. We cannot ignore that, computer and Internet connections are became crucial part of our daily life, besides of hand phone. People use computer to record their daily life or business transaction; use Internet connection to conduct trading activities, gather information and etc. However, there is always a risk that our data will be exposed to others. In addition, we may not aware is it attacker will attack our computer to steal our personal or confidential data, or damage our computer. Therefore, it is important to safeguard our assets from those risks.

Below are some approaches that users can safeguard their personal and financial data:

1. Avoid from accessing financial data in public

Users are advised not to check their financial data in public such as coffee shop that offers free wireless access. These systems are trustable, yet it still unknown whether our data can be accessed by others who sharing the same wireless connections. Hence, users are recommended to check their Internet settings that can give them a highest security protection.

2. Use separate user account

If you are sharing computer with few people, you may be worry that your data will be accidentally access, modify, delete or misuse by others. Therefore, create separate users account is a most effective way to solve their problems. By using separate user account, each of the users will be assigned specific access right and privileges by administrator. This approach limits the risk of private and confidential date been accessible and modifiable by other unwanted users. However, it will not give a full protection by using separate user account against vulnerabilities that may give an attacker administrator privileges.

3. Use and maintain antivirus software and firewall

Antivirus software can helps you to detect and eliminate viruses and Trojan horses than can modify and access to your personal data stored in personal computer. You need to update your antivirus database regularly to avoid your computer being infected by newest viruses. Furthermore, firewall helps to provide protection in favor of users by safeguarding network from malicious or unnecessary Internet traffic. Most of the computer comes with the firewall that integrated with their operating system. Nevertheless, if you using old computer, you are advised to buy firewall and install by yourself.

4. Use password to encrypt sensitive/confidential data

Passwords and other security features add layers of protection if people know how to use it appropriately. By encrypting files, you can ensure that your data not being accessed by unauthorized person. Even if they can physically access to the data, yet the file is not readable or viewable by unauthorized person. Whether the data stored is permanently or temporarily, the data still need to be encrypted. Once you use encryption for your data, it is important that you need to remember the password or passphrases, if not, you lost access to your data and data lose as well.

5. Do not open unknown attachments/links

Never open any unknown files or links that send by an unknown party. Most probably those attachment contains viruses can lead to damages to your data. Besides, it could be one of a way that an unknown party steals your data by sending those attachments or links. Moreover, if you click on the links, most probably it will guide you to a website where they ask you to enter or fill in any personal or financial data.

Related Links:

Safeguarding Your Data
Six Ways to Safeguard Your Online Assets
Understanding Firewalls

The History and Evolution of E-Commerce

Electronic Commerce (generally known as e-commerce) is the process of buying, selling, transferring, or exchanging products, services, and/or information through computer networks, including the Internet (Turban, 2008). E-commerce as a methods of organization, merchants, and consumer to cut cost and help to improve quality of goods and services. The amount of transaction has grown dramatically since the wide spread of Internet. E-commerce generally considered as sales aspects of e-business.

History and Evolution of E-commerce

Initially e-commerce meant the facilitation of commercial transactions electronically, using technologies such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Fund Transfe (EFT). Both of these technologies gave an opportunity for users to exchange information, conduct electronic transaction. In late 1970s, these technologies become more capable and businesses and organizations are able to send commercial documentation electronically, such as purchase order. In addition, credit cards, automated teller machine (ATM), and telephone banking are accepted as form of e-commerce in 1980s. Starting 1990s, Enterprise Resourse Planning (ERP), data mining, and warehousing are included as part of e-commerce.

In 1994, the use of Internet became popular in public, yet it still took about four years to develop the security protocols (such as HTTP) and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). DSL allows rapid access and continual connection to the Internet. In the year of 2000, many companies and organizations in United States and Western have proposed their services through World Wide Web. The meaning of e-commerce changed and people began to define it as the process of purchasing goods and services through Internet using secure connections and electronic payment.

Timeline

Year	Event
1990	The first web browser-World Wide Web was developed by Tim Berners-Lee using a NeXT computer.
1992	26 accessible sites available in World Wide Web.
1993	First browser to support the display of images was released.
1994	World’s first search engine was launched. World’s first secure ecommerce transaction was reported to have occurred.
1995	First online affiliate program being launched. Dell and Cisco began use Internet for commercial transaction. Well-known E-commerce leaders, eBay.com and Am azon.com were introduced.
1998	PayPal was founded. My Simon, as the first comparison shopping site was launched. Goto.com introduced Pay Per Click Advertising.
2000	E-commerce collapsed and many e-commerce companies disappeared
2001	E-commerce re-grows and larger form of e-commerce, business-to-business has achieved about $700 billion in transactions.
2002	E-bay acquires PayPal for $1.5 billion
2003	Amazon.com post yearly profit
2007	R.H. Donnelly acquires Business.com for $345 million
2008	US ecommerce and Online Retail sales projected to reach $204 billion, an increase of 17 percent over 2000

There are number of payment methods introduced by e-commerce website, such as PayPal and credit cards. Thus, it ease Internet users to consume goods and services electronically, for examples, users can order groceries for home delivery, and order food as well through online. Users no longer use Internet for the purpose of looking for information; the usage of Internet has extended to allow users to shopping online without go shopping complex.

Related Sources:

Electronic commerce aka e-commerce history
Electronic commerce
History of Ecommerce
History and timeline of the World Wide Web's evolution