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

E-Government refers to the use of information and the communications technologies (ICTs) to improve government services, transactions and interactions with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. E-Government cover three main domains include improving government processes, connecting to citizens and building the external interactions. The implementation of E-Government in Malaysia so far is Malaysian Super Corridor (MSC).MSC is Malaysia’s initiative for the global information and communication technology (ICT) industry. This initiative was launched in Malaysia in the year 1997 by the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as one of the seven flagships of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative.

The initiative improve the government operates internally and also the convenience, accessibility, and quality of interactions with citizens and businesses. At the same time, it also improves the information flow and processes within the government, the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement. This improvement enabled the government to be more responsive to the needs of its citizens.
E-filing is also one of the most successful applications. E-filing is an electronic filing and is used to submit the tax form data to a taxing authority in computer file format. E-filing can help user faster turnaround time by eliminating mailing and key in of returns; they are now processed more quickly and retrieved rapidly. Besides that, the e-filing also can help to reduced processing costs by reduction in duplicated manual processing.

Nowadays, government all over the world is developing information system and electronic services. Both of this has the capacity to meet these emerging service needs and demands of citizens. The success in delivering the electronic services depends upon the capability and the self-confidence of citizens in performing e-transactions, as well as their trust and confidence in the protection of their personal data within an open and accountable government.


http://www.egov4dev.org/success/definitions.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Government
http://dspace.fsktm.um.edu.my/bitstream/1812/79/1/Roslind%20Kaur.pdf
http://e-comm4entrepreneur.blogspot.com/2008/07/e-government-in-malaysia-its.html http://e-world08.blogspot.com/2008/07/e-government-in-malaysia-its.html http://www.revenue.ne.gov/electron/e-file.htm
http://utar-ecommerce.blogspot.com/2008/07/e-government-in-malaysia-its.html

A Discussion on Electronic Learning offered in Malaysian Universities

What is Electronic Learning?

Electronic Learning is also known as E-learning, eLearning and technology-enhanced learning (TEL). E-learning means technology is used to support the learning process. Is also defined as a planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies, mainly Internet or computer-based, to reach learners. Well E-learning has been implemented in almost all universities in Malaysia. E-learning is a process of education where by the teacher and his student is communicated or teaches without face to face. In advance the lecturers and students are interacting with each other online and discuss everything. The E-learning is provided in the university intranet for their student and lecturer will have access to these sources provided.

Advantages of Electronic Learning in Malaysian University

· Students do not have full of activity schedule compare to traditional higher learning institutions that have a busy schedule.

· Gives students an opportunity to meet adult students in similar situations and can lead the students to great networking opportunities.

· Save cost and time for the student on traveling to university and accommodation fees by just learn at home.

· Flexibility because the information can access in 24 hours and convenience for students to download the notes anytime.

· Wider learning options for students because can access foreign university resources and learn more foreign knowledge but this just applicable for some university only.


Disadvantages of Electronic Learning in Malaysian University

· Student assessment and feedback is limited because the lecturer doesn’t ever know whether the student is understood or not.

· Listening, speaking, writing, communication and language skill will be defectively because through internet.

· Unattractive and Uncreative e-learning system design affect the students learning feel uninterested and cause the rate graduate less.

· Transfers of data are easy harms by third party using some software like viruses or hackers to track the data.

· The connection might not be working successfully because the line is lag due difficult to downloaded and unable to progress the learning process. A resource is inability to upload in time.

As a conclusion, Electronic Learning got many pros and cons but weather is good or not is depend on student own self justified they like to study through E-learning or face to face with their lecturer.

Useful link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_learning
http://derekstockley.com.au/elearning-definition.html
http://gullibility.blogspot.com/2007/07/advantages-and-disadvantages-of.html

Review a local,transactional e-commerce site----MPH Online.com

For MPH Bookstores in Malaysia, the e-commerce unit has been in operation since year 2000. With an extensive collection of book titles across various topics and categories, supported with easy- to-search function for online browsing and free delivery service, it has serve customer from different parts of the world since then.

In late 2006, its operation team is re-organized as an independent business unit and the web store is re-branded with a new identity as MPH Online.com. It is part of MPH Bookstores’ Commitments to embark on greater challenges by offering wider selection of titles in order to meet the demand and expectation from the market.

MPH Online.com leverages the MPH Brand to offer its online customer exclusive deals and promotions. For loyal customers, every purchase made at MPH Online.com qualifies for point collection through MPH Readers’ Circle program.

Besides, MPH Online.com also provides online transaction security to its customer. This web store is fully protected for customer to shop confidently. Customer are offered several payment method including credit cards, direct debit from banking account, cash and cheque deposit, etc. The credit card payment facility is also simplified and safe guard with latest security features such as Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure Code to protect against online identity theft.

Last but not least, this web store provides a lot of advantages to customers and the price is much cheaper compare to the price in the MPH bookshop itself. So, why don't you start to buy your favorite book through online now?

Useful links:
http://malaysiacrunch.blogspot.com/2009/01/malaysias-top-ecommerce-sites.html
http://www.mph.com.my/disclaimer/aboutmph.cfm

The application of pre-paid cash card for consumers

Nowadays, pre-paid cash card are being used around the world. Pre-paid cash card is pre-paid debit card that enables the holder to make purchases and have them deducted from the card’s available balance. A cash card may be branded with a major credit card issuer’s logo, such as American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Octopus card etc, which enables the holder to make purchases wherever those card are accepted. Other types of cash cards that have been widely used in Malaysia are Touch’n go, Smart Tags and etc.

The prepaid cash card can be used in several way:

1. Online payment. Card holders can use it to buy things online and booked airlines ticket whenever they wish.

2. Toll payment. Using Touch’n go or Smart Tag is the expressway of making toll payment at all highways and use for public transports’ fares like bus, LRT and so on.

3. Shop anywhere. As long as the card using is accepted by different retailers such as buys fuel at the petrol station, buy clothes, beauty card product, etc.

4.Transfer money. For some prepaid cash card they provide the convenient such as send or receive money via bank wire transfers, between two cards.

5. Replacement for travelers’ cash. Travelers buy prepaid debit cards denominated in the currency of destination, and then use them to withdraw cash at ATM or pay for goods or services. This is much safer and more secure than carrying around with a large amount of cash.

In a nutshell, pre-paid cash cards are useful payment tool as there is no debt risk because holders will have no chance of spending too much as they are limited to the amount they transfer into the card. It is indeed a good invention for holders to manage their own financial control.

Useful links:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/prepaid-cards/guide/

http://www.creditorweb.com/definition/cash-cards.html

Credit card debts : causes and prevention

Nowadays, almost everyone can have one credit card on hand. But what is credit card? A credit card actually is a any card that entitling holder of the card to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and service later. However, this may caused the numbers of credit card debts increase until create a major problem of bankruptcies each year.

Here are some reason that caused credit card debts:

a) Less income and more expenses - when someone loses his job or and his monthly expenses continued increased, this obviously leads to a rise in debt.

b) Poor money management - people who did not have a monthly spending plan and keeping the monthly bills will lead them unware where the money is going. This forcing you to pay interest on that money.

c) Saving little or not at all - everyone should have saving money habit to face an unfortunate tragedy happens. If you do not have enough money when there is an emergency, you will suffer a much more tragedy.

Even though credit card can caused a seriously debts to somebody but there are still several debt prevention methods:

a) Pay on time - Sometimes, the credit card companies can raise your interest rate if you are late paying to the creditor. Thus, in order to reduce the risk of spending too much money,and it is to better pay on time.

b) Manage your finance - a good strategy will help you control on your credit card using. You must identify your monthly income and the needed expenses every month in order to prevent over spend.

c) Self control and discipline - one of the best practices is to have a direct set up on your own so that able to pay back the full amount of debt for every month. Therefore, self-control and discipline to keep these card is important in order do not over spend.


Related links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_card
http://littleangele-commerce.blogspot.com/2009/02/credit-card-debts-causes-and-prevention.html
http://www.3debtconsolidation.com/top10-causes.htmlhttp://ecommercesite.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/credit-card-debts-causes-and-prevention/
http://www.cardratings.com/howtoavoidcreditcarddebt.html

Electronic currency

Today, many business owners are using “e-commerce” to make money and for consumer they get convience dealing with online transaction as they can make the payment by just a simply click on the confirm button and the deal is then completed. The payment paid though online is calling electronic currency. Electronic currency is also known as electronic cash, e-money, digital money, digital cash digatal currency and so on. Normally,its involve in computer networks, the internet, and digital stored value when using electronic currency. It served as universal media of exchange for money and scrip. The common example of electronic currency that everyone similar is Electronic Funds Transfer(EFT) and direct deposit.

Examples of e-micro payment system:





1. Bit Pass (bitpass.com)
Bitpass was founded in December, 2002. This system was one of the online systems for digital content, services, and its can works similarly to a pre-paid telephone card. Furthermore this system also allow their customer to sign up for the services and put money into your account using a credit card or paypal in order towards the purchase of content. Bitpass has an easy integration with paypal. Moreover, Bitpass announced that they were shutting down due to the 'circumstances beyond our control' on 19th of January in 2007.

2. PayPal(paypal.com)
PayPal is a business that carrying out towards e-commerce that allowing online payment, and money transfer service that allows their consumer to send money via e-mail, phone or by electronic debit from a bank account and credit card through the internet. PayPal performs payment processing for online vendors, auction sites, and other corporate users, for which it charges a fee. The fee will charge in added a small portion into the cost per transaction.

Pros of using Electronic Currency
1) Electronic currency is cheaper because it allows transaction to take place through internet at a low costs.

2) Convenient for consumer to shop through online and save their time and effort by going shopping in centers.

3) Faster, because by this Electronic Currency the transaction can be done in a few seconds. (Example: ATM)

4) Confidentiality because customer information will not easily passes or explore to other parties due to the security provided by the use of encryption.

Useful Link:

http://wwwbloggerecommerce.blogspot.com/2009/07/electronic-currency.html
http://images.google.com.my/imageshl=en&q=useful+link&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq= http://www.e-currency-directory.net/definition_e_currency.htm