The Electronic Government initiative was launched to lead the country into the Information Age. It will improve how the government operates internally, as well as how it delivers services to the people of Malaysia. It seeks 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.
COME July 1, all government agencies will go online and all payments can be made using e-pay facilities in the Klang Valley.
However counter services will still be made available to those who prefer settling their dues this way. Through the streamlining of the e-payment systems, the Government's task force for facilitating businesses hopes transactions with government agencies will be made more efficient.
A total of 57 agencies had made available online payment for a total of 90 services. These include payment for renewal of competent driving licence (CDL) and payment of summonses to the Road Transport Department (JPJ). The others that have extended the online service included the Immigration Department, Land and Mines Department, Education Ministry, Finance Ministry and Public Service Department. Even the purchase of train tickets for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) can now be done online. The Klang, Shah Alam, Selayang, Sepang, Nilai, Subang Jaya, Ampang Jaya, Kajang, Kuala Langat, Kuala Selangor and Petaling Jaya municipalities have also extended similar mode of payment for the people to settle their assessment dues.
The majority of e-government portals developed in Malaysian are not appropriate to their users. For instance these portals target only literate people which means that more than 60% of potential users are automatically excluded. And, for the less than 40% of the ‘de factor’ users, these portals suppose that the user has at least a good knowledge in manipulating and communicating with computers, and focus on technical aspects and not on the portal’s fundamental goal which should provide an easy, clear and quick online service delivery.
In brief, the objectives of e-government are to improve the accessibility, convenience and quality of interactions between citizens, businesses and the government; and to improve the speed and quality of information flow and the processes of policy development coordination and the enforcement of government operation.
