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

Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies

Malaysia being a country with over 25 million in population and 21 million mobile subscribers as at the end of year 2007, there is definitely market opportunity for mobile payment system.

The current mobile payment system that is available in Malaysia is Mobile Money (MM Wallet). Mobile Money is a PIN-based Mobile Payment Solution designed by Mobile Money International Sdn Bhd to address the limitations and bottlenecks created by cash, cheques and credit cards. It allows registered users to pay for goods and services at anytime, anywhere using only a mobile phone coupled with a 6-digit security PIN via SMS.

In order to pay using Mobile Money, a shopper must have either a savings, current or credit card account with participating banks. It functions like a Credit Card if a shopper applies for a "Pay by Mobile Phone" credit card account (eg: Hong Leong Mobile Credit Card) and it functions as a Debit Card if it is tied to shopper's savings or current account.

In order to encourage consumers to adopt mobile payment system, we must know what are the advantages of mobile payment system. The following are some of the advantages of mobile payment system:

• Queue avoidance

• Enhanced payment instrument availability

• Complement to cash

• Digital content and services, e.g. ticketing

• Small value purchases at point of sale, e.g. vending

• Trust in m-payment service providers, e.g. Banks

• Can be use when suddenly need for payments

• Can be use when lack of other payment instruments

• Need to make payments remotely