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

Malaysia and various countries are implementing electronic government. The implementation of E-Government was initiated by the introduction of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).

E-Government is the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to promote more efficient and effective government, facilitate more accessible government services, allow greater public access to information, and make government more accountable to citizens.

E-Government seeks to improve the convenience, accessibility and quality of interactive with citizens and business. The effectiveness and efficiency delivering services provided by government enable the government to become more responsive to the needs of the citizens.

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

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

New technologies are forcing governments to abreast to technologies in order to avoid falling behind. Challenges are facing by government to keep up with technologies. Other challenges includes lack of broadband infrastructure, low usage of Mykad beyond identity functions and etc. Not only on the introduction of MSC and ICT, government should focus on continuous technology infrastructure and maintenance and this is the basis of all electronic transactions. Information security must be strengthened as online security is very important.

Corporate Blogging: A New Marketing Communication Tool for Companies

First, before introduce corporate blog; we need to know that what blog is. Blog is published on the web, it reflect the interests, thoughts and opinions of the person. Blogs are characteristized by frequent update, an informal tone and many links to other blogs and websites.

However, corporate blog is a blog published by or with the support of an organization to reach that organization's goals. In external communications the potential benefits include strengthened relationships with important target groups and the positioning of the publishing organization (or individuals within it) as industry experts. Internally blogs are generally referred to as tools for collaboration and knowledge management.

Nowadays, corporations are increasingly looking for opportunities to make them stand out to maintain a competitive edge. Although traditional media serves as a solid medium that separate company messaging to the world, the trends of information consumption are evolving. After some initial hesitancy, corporations are slowly starting to realize that it is important t

o jump on the virtual bandwagon of blogging.

There are some company which is utilizing blogging to connect with their customer such as Intel, Cicso, and HP. These companies using blog to represent of the company’s values, beliefs, philosophy and direction, such as the blog allows current and potential consumers to associate the brand with a face and a personality. It bridges the distant gap that has existed between the “inaccessible” company and the “average” consumer.

Through the corporate blog, company also can built a community of people who are interested in their products and made contacts with customers that they would never have met. Besides that, it also allows the company to share their ideas and insight into their products so that the company can architect their product solutions.

Additionally, if the company involved in a medium that encourages a two-way conversation, it shows their consumers that the company care about their opinions. There is a person noted that blogging lets them communicate with their customers in a more personal and direct way. But more importantly, blogging gives them a much needed way for customers to communicate with them. Customers are able to interact with comments and potentially provide valuable feedback or insight that can be brought back into the business.”

On the other hand, corporate blog may cause of time consuming on updated, and can lead to legal pitfalls as well. In spite of this, some people may also use it to write negatively about the company which can lead to bad publicity.

In conclusion, corporate blogging is getting important because it bringing benefits to the corporation on deliver the message privately or publicly even though there is some disadvantage that may affect the reputation of the organization.

References:

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/10/15/a-guide-to-corporate-blogging/

http://www.corporateblogging.info/2004/06/corporate-blog-short-definition.asp

The potential and consumers' adoption strategies of mobile payment system in Malaysia

The meaning of the mobile payment is allows you to make payments to selected merchants by using your mobile phones. As mobile payment has become more and more popular, consumer not only can pay their bill and purchase of goods and services among the cashless transactions, it also can enjoy the benefits of mobile payments by register and open an account with mobile payment service providers. But the important is your mobile phone or smart phone must provide a support for GPRS/ GSM.

First Mobile Payment System

Malaysia’s first mobile payment system was launched in lately November 2001, TeleMoney, it is the first mobile system that provide service via multi-channel access for Internet and wireless transaction. Through the TeleMoney, it can connecting to a credit card , debit card, stored valued card, bank account or even the phone account. Besides that, there is a System@Work which is offer Internet and mobile commerce services perform as a master merchant while Hong Leong Bank is acts as a settlement, clearing and payment bank for the service in Malaysia.

Beside that, some of the mobile payment system available in Malaysia is Mobile Money and SCAN's Mobile Payment System. 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 bills at anytime, anywhere using only a mobile phone coupled with a 6-digit security PIN (Personal Identification Number) via SMS (Short Messaging Service) or MM ATM application. (For more details about MM ATM, please visit here)

World’s First Contactless Mobile Payment System Launches in Malaysia

In April 2009, contactless mobile payment service utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) technology was introduced by Visa, Maybank, Maxis and Touch n' Go. And yet, Maxis has launched an integrated mobile payment service, Maxis FastTap that uses near field communication (NFC) technology.

NFC is a short-range wireless technology that allows communications between devices at close range. As an open platform technology, NFC offers high levels of interoperability between devices and readers and is now the global standard for contactless mobile payments, with a wide range of features that allows credit card, debit card, ticketing and transportation payments to be integrated into a mobile phone.

Maxis FastTap is an integrated credit card and transit payment applications on a Nokia 6212 classic device. With using Nokia 6212 classic phone, consumer enables to purchase goods and services at more than 1,800 Visa paywave merchant locations.


In conclusion, mobile payment services in fact have great potential and advantages. When a merchant has subscribed to mobile payment instead of credit card payment system, it can save more on maintenance cost and startup fee. Merchants can also make an extra sale through offline network. On the other hand, it also brings convenience to consumer such as consumer can enjoy with low-value transaction over such non-traditional means.

Electronic Currency

This week I would like to introduce to you the "electronic currency". It is widely used in nowadays world. But what is electronic currency? And, what is it used for?

What is electronic currency?

Electronic currency also known as electronic money, digital money, e-money and so on. Electronic currency can only be exchanged electronically. Typically, it involves the use of Internet and digital stored value system. It is a computerized money system and use to replace the current physical paper money currency. There are some success examples of electronic currency which are implemented in Hong Kong's octopus card system and Singapore's ezlink card system.

Advantages of Using Electronic Currency

There are many advantages for using electronic currency. The first advantage, electronic currency is cheaper. It allows transactions take place at a low costs and even the most expensive digital currency cost lower than the credit card. For those transactions which have high cost previously due to time, effort, and money are now feasible by using electronic currency since it is cheaper. Besides that, the people who are using the electronic currency can make a significant savings compare to those who always use the credit card.

Another advantage is electronic currency is faster. Electronic currency make a instantaneous and nonconvertible transaction that solve the vulnerable position of the merchant since the credit card at their store can be stolen by hacker. If you want to transfer the money to your friends or family, with a few seconds the transaction is done and your friends or family can withdraw the cash from the ATM. That's fast.

Electronic Currency is international. Credit card or paypal are hard to applied in different country. Therefore, electronic currency acts an important role in helping the international enterprenuer to sell their product or service to worldwide. It is because electronic currency make an instantaneous transfer of money anywhere in the world with the easily and quick convert to the cash of any country.

Issues of Electronic Currency

Eventhough, there are many advantages that provided by electronic currency, but still there are some issues that arise from electronic currency such as how to levy tax, the possible ease of money laundering, exchange rate instabilities and shortage of money supplies.

Future Evolution

The future focus of the electronic currency developement are:

1. Being able to use it through a wider range of hardware such as secured credit cards
   
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