E-Government In Malaysia: Its Implementation So Far And Citizen's Adoption Strategies

E-government is the use of information and communication technologies in public administration combined with organisational change and new skills to improve public services and democratic processes and to strengthen support to public policies. E-government is a way for public administration to become more open and transparent, and to reinforce democratic participation: more service-oriented, providing personalized and inclusive services to each citizen.

According to the survey which done by Brown University on Rhode Island, United State, on international e-government ranking list, Malaysia is in the ranking of 25. Malaysia government has successfully implement the e-government. One of the most successful application are e-filling.

E-filling is a method of filing of all income documents of tax payer in Malaysia, that uses an electronic format rather than a traditional paper format, from office or home through Internet. To use this services, taxpayers need to make a tax registration. Malaysia's Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will send the PIN for online tax registration through mail to the taxpayers.

However, there are some problems faced in e-government implementation:

• Language barrier - Most of the government websites using Bahasa Malaysia.



• Technological barrier - Lack of technical infrastructure.



• Online behaviour - Malaysians remain sceptical on being distrust on electronic transaction especially on online banking buying from an Internet store.



• Lack of public awareness - Public are not aware of the services offered.

Ways to encourage more citizens to use the e-government applications:

• Provide websites with multiple language version.



• Increase awareness through TV and radio advertisements, and organising workshops at shopping malls.



• Provide consultation services on how to use those services.



• Simplify procedures needed to access to the e-government services.

To read more regarding e-government, visit the following links:
- http://www.myeg.com.my/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-government
- http://www.hasil.org.my/english/eng_index.asp

- http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/e-Government

Review a local e-commerce site: Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC)

Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd (GSC) is the leading film exhibitor and distributor in Malaysia. It is a subsidiary of PPB Group (a member of Kuok Group). GSC is an click-and-mortar organization which conducting some e-commerce activities (E-payment ticketing and provide online advertising), but do its primary business in the physical shop (cinemas).

Public can get most of the information of GSC through GSC website (www.gsc.com.my). In the GSC website, customers can purchase their tickets via GSC e-payment ticketing (online) and also enjoy the online purchase facility which is available at some of the specified cinemas.

Although there is no search engine available in GSC website, but the site provide public to search the show times of movies in each of the cinemas. Public can check the movies show times before they go to cinemas. Besides that, the site provide a lot of benefits to its members, such as: free movie treat on member's birthday, load up on free complimentary movie passes, chance to get movie passes or vouchers to any movie related events at GSC cinemas, etc.

The site also provide free download on movie wallpaper, greeting cards, trailers, and so on. The download speed of this site is very fast, it take less than 1 minute to download a wallpaper and also the greeting cards.

In conclusion, the GSC website provides its user a lot of benefits and has the following feature:

-Promotions

-Movies show times and details

-GSC upcoming events

-Online Reservation

-E-payment ticketing

-Contest

-Free download of wallpapers, greeting cards, movie trailers, etc

-Corporate and cinemas information

Corporate Blogging: A New Marketing Communication Tools for Companies

A corporate weblog is used by an organization to reach its organizational goals.

Businesses have actually found blogs as a new marketing communication tool for their companies. 3 main and fundamental ideas which come into their minds: Documenting history, Promoting, and Branding.

Documenting history

How do we tell a particular business story to customers and staff, or potential business partners? There is always a story underneath all those blog entries that connect to a company’s dream of achieving something.

Blogging is indeed a way for people to motivate their work team and to document company’s history as it happens.

Promoting

Some business blogs solely provide information on the company’s latest products and services. Companies also use their blogs to handle queries from customers and potential customers.

Explains webmaster Jason Chow, blogging also helps companies market their products and their websites. News in blogs apparently appear faster in search engine results rather than regular HTML (HyperText Markup Language) pages. Blogs have RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to alert readers when there is an update of a new post or product.

Branding

Blogging is also a trend that companies will not be able to ignore as it provides a platform for businesses to interact with potential customers as well as a way for companies to build their brand through knowledge sharing.

XiMnet’s Chin believes that blogging will catch on with the younger entrepreneurs who are bolder and braver.

“I think most of the chief executive officers in Malaysia are very conservative. I don’t think it’s going to happen at that level. But maybe the young entrepreneurs, the mavericks, are going to do that,” says Chin.

“A blog merges your personality and your business vision. It is a very good entry point into who you are, what you do, and what your values are,” he added.