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

The Electronic Government initiative in Malaysia was launched to lead the country into the Information Age. It has improved both 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; simultaneously, it will improve information flows and processes within government to improve the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement.
Current applications of e-Governement in Malaysia such as
i. E-filling
ii. MYEG
iii. KWSP i-Akaun
iv. E-perolehan

E-filling
E-filling is a method of filling of all income documents of tax payer in Malaysia that uses an electronic format rather than a traditional paper format. To use these 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 taxpayer.

MY E.G.
MY E.G. services Bhd (MYEG) was incorporated in Malaysia as private limited company on 2000 as Marvel Sdn Bhd. On 2005, the company changed its status to a public company as My E.G. Services Berhad. MYEG focuses on delivering improvement in the Government Internal operation and in the delivery of services to the consumer. Those services provided my MYEG are:
- Driving License Renewal
- Auto Insurance Renewal
- Road tax Renewal
- LDL Application

KWSP I-Akaun
Akaun is a member’s or an employer’s personal account to be used on the Internet, specifically on myEPF portal. By having this account, user are able to access EPF services that are being offered online. Through i-Akaun, members can use the internet as another channel to gain access to number of EFP’s services online. Members need to register and activities their online account to be able to use i-Akaun services. There services provided by i-Akaun include:
- Check statement of account
- Check withdrawal status and history;
- Update addresses and other contact details; and
- Calculate the amount eligible for withdrawal for various withdrawal schemes.

ePerolehan
ePerolehan is an online procurement system that allows local entrepreneurs to register as suppliers for government offices or renew their registration, besides that it also allows the government offices and agencies to procure product and services through a fast, web-based electronic application. ePerolehan was establish in 1999 as part of the MSC initiatives, and developed by Commerce Dot Com, a company partly owned by the government.

However, there are some problems faced in e-government implementation:
• 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 consultation services on how to use those services.
• Simplify procedures needed to access to the e-government services.
• Increase awareness through TV and radio advertisements, and organising workshops at shopping malls.



Reference:
http://www.myeg.com.my/history.htm
http://www.kwsp.gov.my/index.php?ch=p2iakn&pg=en_p2iakn_about&ac=1558
http://www.kwsp.gov.my/index.php?ch=p2members&pg=en_p2members_iakaun&ac=52
http://www.google.com.my/url?q=http://skorcareer.com.my/blog/what-is-eperolehan/2008/04/10/&ei=bmFVSqDTHIuEswO-u7H0AQ&sa=X&oi=spellmeleon_result&resnum=1&ct=result&usg=AFQjCNEVRG7gLksAaRo6uJIlmu5pCEQuyA
http://www.google.com.my/url?q=http://www.uniteperolehan.gov.my/soalanLazim_bi.php&ei=bmFVSqDTHIuEswO-u7H0AQ&sa=X&oi=spellmeleon_result&resnum=2&ct=result&usg=AFQjCNGlyEylld0yyu0jsVt13RgOtJvDxA

A discussion on E-learning offered in Malaysian universities: Pros and Cons from the students perspective

Today e-learning has been gaining more and more power and it is learning or education program that provided by electronic. E-learning involves the use of a computer or electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide educational or learning material. (Derek Stockley 2003)

E-learning offered in Malaysian universities such as University of Malaya, University Teknologic Malaysia, University Teknologi PETRONAS and so on. However, there are still many questions about pros and cons of getting higher education online, the details as below:

Pros of e-learning

Flexibility and convenience

Learners can study wherever they have access to a computer and Internet. They can access instruction at their convenience, no matter where they live or travel because e-learning courses are primarily independent of time and place. Furthermore, they are flexibility to join discussions in the bulletin board threaded discussion areas at any hour, or visit with classmates and instructors remotely in chat rooms. Learner’s class work can be scheduled around work and family also one of the factors that convince learners who is working as full-timer.

Cost and time reduction

E-learning has been becoming more and more popular among learners living in developing and undeveloped countries. They can afford getting higher education degrees at respectable universities by saving extra expenses for traveling, accommodations, food and high fees for tutors. Furthermore, learners can reduce cost of buying paper or photostat if learners can get online resources, send a query and write term paper at any time they can get access to the Internet.

Reduce conflict among classmates

As we know that different people has different learning style and behavior. This situation can create conflict among classmates with different age, level of experience, gender, race or background who study in a class if our lack of communication skill in face to face communication. Therefore the learners can avoid this happen in their learning life if implement e-learning. Beside that, the learners can refer back to previous lectures without affecting the learning pace of other students.

Cons of e-learning

Lack of face to face communication

Lack of face to face communication allows learners to reduce conflict among classmates. However, this was indirectly to eliminate opportunity of learner to face to face communication with tutors or lecturers when learners need help in education. While lecturers cannot easily feel a student's demands, interests and motivations, a student can simply be lazy being non-motivated enough and bad study habits may fall behind. Next, online classes, conferences and discussions are limited in time and totally exclude emotional interactivity, lack of gesture and so on.

Computer literacy

For the learners who are beginner-level computer skills, managing computer files and online learning software can sometimes seem complex. Therefore, it can become one of the factors that affect process of learning. Furthermore, slow internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials frustrating will affect the learners who have financial problem and unable to buy a new computer.

References:

http://derekstockley.com.au/elearning-definition.html

http://elearning.perdana.um.edu.my/login.php

http://elearning.utp.edu.my/

http://elearning.utm.my/

http://www.ecsd.net/online_courses/pros_cons.html

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_Pros_and_cons_of_e_learning

http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learning-articles/pros-and-cons-of-elearning-685765.html

http://www.dso.iastate.edu/asc/academic/elearner/advantage.html

http://writingandsnacks.blogspot.com/2006/08/pros-and-cons-of-e-learning.html

Review a local e-commerce site

Nowadays,many companies start using e-commerce for their business. This phenomenal not just within the services or banking areas but it also include the food industry.When you feel hungry and would like to order pizza, usually you will order by phone but now there are an alternative method for you to order pizza. Now you can order pizza through online with Domino's Pizza because it was the first fast food industry that offer online services in Malaysia.

The local e-commerce site that i have review is www.dominos.com.my

Domino's Pizza was one of the food industry in Malaysia.It is a franchise company that own by Dommal Food Services Sdn Bhd. Their commitment is “30 minutes to customer's doorstep” and this is still applies even you order through online. Beside that, they are also totally free for deliver.

When you first visit the home page, there is an advertisement that promote their new product or any promotion that are available. They were using yellow colour for this advertisement and it make attractive to customers. Beside that, all the information about Domino's Pizza such as menu, promotion, combo meals will be at the left hand side of the home page. This is clear and easy for those first visitors. Other than that, there is a loyalty program for those loyal customers. They can register as a member and get more benefit or discount.

Otherwise, one of the services that provide by Domino's Pizza is favourite order. This is the most services that i like and feel that Domino's Pizza was really care about customers. The reason is when you register as a member, they will save your past order record and they will show you what is your favourite order. Therefore, it will be easily for me to order.

The speed and navigation of the web site is fast and smoothly. Customers can easily turn from one page to another page or link to other information. Order pizza through online is convenience but there are still have some people will worry about the payment. This is because not everyone would have credit card. However,customers don't have to worry about it because the term of payment for Domino's Pizza is Cash On Deliver. This have been clearly stated in the ordering policies.

As a conclusion, Domino's Pizza's web site is clear and easy to understand. Inside the web site, it has provide many sufficient information and it is easy to understand .

References:

http://ok-lah.blogspot.com/2005/11/top-5-ecommerce-companies.html

http://www.dominos.com.my/

Corporate blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies.

Nowadays, more and more organizations use corporate blog as a new marketing communication tool.




First and for most, what is corporate blog???



Well, Corporate blog is actually a web blog used and published by an organisation to achieve its organisational goals. Corporate blogs usually classified into external or internal corporate blog. Internal blogs are accessed through corporation’s intranet that only employees can view. External blogs are publicly available weblog where employees, teams, spokespersons and others people can share their views. It is often use to announce their new products and services.



However, corporate blog are new but powerful marketing communication tools for the organization. No matter what kind of organization you are: large or small, domestic company or international company, primary or public company can create your own corporate blog. Besides helping strengthen the relationship with your customers, a good corporate blog can also help to attract more potential customers!










An example of corporate blog is Dell's Direct2Dell. This team is extremely plugged in to the blogosphere and social media in general. The statement is right in the banner: "A blog about Dell products, services, and customers".

Corporate blog brings a lot of benefit to the customers and organization.

For customers:
-It provides the latest news and information about company and its product.
-It allows customers express their personal opinion, suggestion and complaint here.
-Customers are easier to search their products by using blog.

For organizations:
-Easy to publish and set up.
-Free customer feedbacks and suggestions about your products.
-Providing more detail or accurate information to your customers.
-Building better relationship with your customers.

Disadvantages of corporate blog:

• It’s easy to start a blog but it is hard to be maintained. Writing coherently is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks for a human being to undertake.
• Could be harmful for company if some employees use to write negatively comments about the company, thus leading to bad publicity.

Reference:



http://www.scottmonty.com/2008/03/corporate-blogging-how-pros-do-it.html

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/05/01/13147.aspx

http://www.helium.com/items/254062-the-pros-and-cons-of-corporate-blogging

http://www.enterpriseblogs.info/corporate-blogging/advantages

http://www.enterpriseblogs.info/corporate-blogging/disadvantages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_blog

The application of pre-paid cash for consumers

What is prepaid cash card?
A prepaid cash card is a plastic card which provides an alternative payment method to cash when making purchases. The payment time frame of prepaid cash card is different with debit card and credit card. The payment of debit card is make during transactions whereas credit card is make a payment after transactions. However, prepaid cash card should pre-loaded cash into card before make any transactions.

Benefits of using prepaid cash card

• No debt risk-The users can only spend the balance that has been preloaded onto the card and unlike credit cards the funds are transferred from the bearer's bank account instead of having the bearer to pay back on a later date. Therefore, the users can avoid falling into debt and never have to worry about finance charges, late charges, or over-the-limit fees.

• Convenience-It can be use to shop & pay bills online, purchase goods & services, withdraw cash at virtually any ATM, topping up mobile phone, the replacement of travellers' cheques and so on.

• Safety- It is more safety instead of carrying large sum of cash when shop in supermarket because the users need to enter a PIN number on electronic keypad and sign a receipt to ensure that user who is authorize to using the prepaid cash card. However, the user will find the item they want to buy and click on to the websites "checkout" page before filling in they details and those of their prepaid card when internet shopping. Then, the transaction will be completed as long as have enough cash loaded onto cash.
  

Applications and examples of prepaid cash card

Touch 'n Go for e-tailing
E-tailing or electronic retailing refers to the practice of selling goods and services over an electronic medium like the internet. Touch 'n Go is an electronic purse that can be used by Malaysian toll expressway and highway operators as the sole Electronic Payment System (EPS). Furthermore, cardholders can also pay for purchases made over the Internet using a smart card reader and the NETS E-Wallet.

Touch ‘n Go uses contactless smart card technology and it looks similar to a credit card. User can continue using the card as long as it is pre-loaded with electronic cash. User can reload the card at toll plazas, train stations, Automated Teller Machines, Cash Deposit Machines, Petrol kiosks and at authorised third party outlets.

Cardholders can pay charges and purchases made at retail outlets, vending machines, public pay phones, car parks, fast food restaurant and so on. It is very convenient because cardholders no longer need to prepare for small change or wait in queue at the cash lane to complete the transaction.


Octopus card application in Hong Kong

The Octopus card is an electronic fare card that used to transfer electronic
payment in online or offline system in Hong Kong. It was launched in September 1997. Furthermore, it is easy and convenience to use, saves time and eliminates need for small change.

It is simply waved over a sensor and the correct amount is either deducted or added to cardholder balance immediately. The cardholders can add money to it when they need. The Octopus card is also used for payment at convenience stores, supermarkets, fast food restaurants, on-street parking meters, car parks and other point-of-sale applications such as service stations and vending machines. However, the primary used of Octopus card is for public transport.

On the other hand, it was further classified into Child, Adult, Elder, and Personalised categories and different amounts of fare concession. For instance, the Octopus card for adult is sold for HK$150 with an initial value of HK$100. Furthermore, Octopus card's standard transaction time for readers used for public transport is 0.3 seconds, while that of readers used for retailers is 1 second. This is one of the reason Hong Kong residents like to use the Octopus card.

The other special-purpose card, the MTR Airport Staff Octopus, is available for the staff of Hong Kong International Airport and Asia World-Expo. Staff who apply for the card may use it for a discount of up to 64 percent for Airport Express single journey fares.


Related links:
http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=17&pg=671&ac=581 http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/prepaid-cards/guide/
http://forum.picantoclub.com/index.php?showtopic=941
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/trip-planner/transport.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_card#Card_usage
http://www.hong-kong-travel.org/Octopus.asp

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

Nowadays, mobile payment system was very famous especially in Europe and Asia. It also can be known as M-payment. It is a new and rapidly-adopting alternative payment method. Consumer can use mobile device such as mobile phone, smart phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) to pay their bills, or buy digital or hard goods such as music, online game, ringtones, books, and movie ticket. Usually for purchase ringtones and wallpapers will use sms text message and it will deliver by Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS). Nowadays, mobile web payment (WAP) and Direct Mobile Billing are more famous.

Nowadays, mobile payment system was start using by Malaysian and become popular in Malaysia. This is due to mobile payment system is convenience in this fast growing market and it will make our busy life to become more simple and easy. By using mobile payment system consumers can pay their bills or transfer money by using their mobile phone at anywhere or anytime. This will help the consumer save their time for queuing up for bill payment at the counter. Beside that, consumers also no need to carry money to make the transaction because it can be paid by using the mobile wallet.

Mobile payment system does not require minimum monthly transaction, rental fee and merchant account. Therefore, consumers do not need to hit the minimum monthly transaction to waive the rental fee. Mobile payment is safe and secure because consumers do not have to worry about the cash, cheque, and credit card handling problems or fraud. It also secured by a strong pin fraud protection, therefore consumers does not need to worry about their date will hack or steal by other.

For the consumer’s adoption strategies, most of the Malaysian use mobile payment system to pay the credit card debt and bills. Therefore, we can know that Malaysian still not familiar with the mobile payment system even though it’s become more popular. Therefore, we need to educate consumers about the mobile payment system, the usefulness and its function. Besides that, we also need to enhance consumer’s confidence and the system’s security.

There are many mobile systems in Malaysia such as mCheck, Telemoney and 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. Mobile Money allow users make payments and registered users to pay for goods and services at anywhere and anytime by using a mobile phone with a 6-digit security PIN (Personal Identification Number) via SMS (Short Messaging Service). This will encourage more consumers to shop online.

Related link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_payment

http://www.neowave.com.my/mobilemoney_overview.asp

Credit card debt: Causes and Prevention.

Credit card debt results when a client of a credit card company purchases an item or service through the card system. In another ways, credit card can be defined as debt accumulates and raises via interest and penalties when the consumer does not pay the company for the money he or she has spent. In spite of the fact that goverment has organized so much financial planning seminar to reduce the credit card debts impact, but the amount of the people are still increasing in credit card debt significantly.

1.Lack of financial planning. People does not have a desire to make a well financial planning and basic money managemnet skills for their expenses and income. They usually dont make planning first to decide which things are wanted and unwanted , before they make a purchase decision.

2.Poor money management skills. Obviusly,most of the people cannot well manage or handle equilibrium between expenses and income. They do not have an income and spending budget, so they will spend over their income unwisely.

3. Reduced or lost of income. Serious debt may caused by divorce or unemployement. If there is a enormous gap between income and expenses, the alternative way to fill the gap is with credit card debt.

4. Saving too little or not at all. The feasible way to avoid unwanted debt is to prepare for unexpected expenditures by saving three to six months of living expenses. Apparently, a savings cushion in planing, a job layoff, illness or divorce will not cause immediate financial strain and increase debt.

5. No money communication skills. The most important things is to communicate with your spouse or significant other and your children about finances. Keep the lines of communication wide open and discuss financial goals and spending styles. If you are married to a spender and you are a saver, you will need to figure out a strategy for you both to get what you want. Knowing what credit accounts you each have and promise each other to be honest about what each other spends.


Although there are many causes of Credit card debts, there are also have some preventions and safety tips.

1.Photocopy the credit card offer which include the interest rate and terms. Then, form a letter to your credit card competitor companies mentioning that you are thinking of switching to their competitior because they are contributing a quite reasonable interest rate. As a result, credit card companies do not want to lose your business so they will offer a lower rate than the competitor company has offered.

2. Pay off smaller balances first. It is common for a person to try to focus on their cards with larger balances first. Pay off the smaller ones. It will take less time and you will feel a sense of satisfaction when you have actually completed your goal. This will boost your confidence and make it easier to tackle the higher balances.

3. Another alternative is to cut up your cards so that you are not tempted to use them. Save one card for emergencies.

4 If you have equity in your home, look into paying off credit card debt with a refinance or fixed-rate home equity loan. Do not use a home equity line of credit, the rates will rise as the prime rises and suddenly you may find it impossible to keep up with your bills.
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References:

http://www.mozdex.com/prevent-credit-card-debt/

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/debt_manage_2004/top-10-causes.asp

Electornic Currency

Electronic currency is also known as e-money, electronic cash, digital money or digital currency. It refers to money or script exchanged electronically through computer network, internet or digital stored valued system. The examples of electronic currency are Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and direct deposit. Besides that, also have some system involved the electronic currency system, which are:

1. ClickandBuy
ClickandBuy system is a full-service solution for e-payment and billing system. In 1999s, Norbert Stangl founded FIRSTGATE Internet AG which is the Internet payment system ClickandBuy and was launched in 2000. Nowadays, the ClickandBuy is available all over Europe, US and Asia, which include 126 different currencies and 46 different payment methods. ClickandBuy is used by Apple iTunes, Skype, msn, Playboy and so forth.

2. PayLoadz
The server host of PayLoadz.com is located in New York, United States. PayLoadz provided a secure Digital Goods E-Commerce service for everyone to sell downloadable good online. Such as Software, eBook, music, movies, articles, files, forms, and anything else that can be downloaded.

3. Paystone Technologies
Paystone Technologies is an online money transfer company that provided secure, convenient and quick money transfer and payments for its customers around the world. Paystone Technologies have offering 3 distinct services which are:
a) International money remittance and email money from North America to any bank account in 15 counties.
b) Payment gateway linking North American e-commerce merchant to Chinese online buyers.
c) GroupPay, is a mass payments system that allows you to pay many people at one time internationally via email.


4. Peppercoin
Peppercoin is a cryptographic system for processing micropayments and was developed by Silvio Micali and Ron Rivest. Peppercoin is a small payments technology company transforming routine card transactions into new revenue opportunities. Peppercoin provides a loyalty-ready PCI-complaint small payments suite for all payment models, including pre-paid, subscription and pay-as-you-go with Intelligent Aggregation.

5. DigiCash
DigiCash Inc. was a pioneering electronic currency corporation founded by David Chuam in 1990. DigiCash transactions were unique in that they were anonymous due to a number cryptographic protocols develop by its founder and it was declared bankruptcy in year 1998. Nowadays, DigiCash Inc provide the Digicash Wallet, which can gives merchants a revolutionary new approach for initiating real-time, value-creating coupons and promotion in increase sales, margin, and customers loyalty.

6. Beenz.com
Beenz.com was founded by Charles Cohen, from UK. Beenz.com was a website allowed consumers to earn beenz (is a type of online currency) for performing activities and the beenz e-currency could be spent with participating Web merchants around the world. Since Beenz illegally launching a new currency in many countries, therefore the finance ministers across Europe assure them that Beenz would be categorized as virtual points. After 9/11, Carlson’s business was struggled and the beenz concept was shelved. Therefore, the beenz.com was closed.

7. Flooz.com
Flooz.com was founded by Robert Levitan and promoted by comic actress Whoopi Goldberg in a series of television advertisements in February 1999. Flooz.com was a dot-com venture. The name of “flooz” means “money” in Arabic word. The company establishes a currency unique to internet merchants. Users can accumulate floodz credits to redeem for merchandise at a variety of participating online stores. The company was close on August 26, 2001.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_money
http://clickandbuy.com/US/en/
https://www.payloadz.com/
http://www.techvibes.com/company-directory/paystone-technologies-corp
http://boston.bizjournals.com/gen/company.html?gcode=FF52DE71940147CC86BA8F120810453A
http://www.answers.com/topic/peppercoin
http://www.digicash.com/
http://www.answers.com/topic/beenz-com
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/12892.html?wlc=1246385546
http://www.answers.com/topic/flooz-com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigiCash

The threat of online security: How safe is our data?

Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks. It allows everyone to exchange information and data with other users who are staying at different countries. But, how safe is our data?

In year 2007, the University of California server was hacked into and the confidential information such as names, social security numbers and bank account details of 46,000 students, faculties and staffs were disclosed. The reason for the amount of cybercrimes is rapidly increasing because the cyber criminals know that successful attack is very profitable.

Hence, the users need to be aware the threat of online security and it can improve user's knowledge about methods to prevent the data to be disclosed. Types of threats and attacks can be divided into two categories:

1. Nontechnical attack which is an attack that uses techniques to trick people into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise the security of a network. For example:

• Social engineering which uses social pressures such as human weaknesses (scare, no confident) to trick computer users into comprising computer networks to which those individuals have access. This method is usefulness for cyber criminals to trick computer users rather than waste times and cost to break control system.
  

Phishing is one example of social engineering and it is a technique used to gain personal information such as account number and passwords by sending fraudulent e-mail messages to e-mail users.



2. Technical attack is using programming skills and knowledge to inappropriate use of data.
For example:

• Virus which is a program that attaches itself to other program. For example: I love you virus

• Worm which is a program that copy themselves until it interrupts the operation of network or computer system. This program is automatic attack other computers through network if one of the computers is attacked by worm eventhough already stop the operation network.

• Denial of service (DOS) is hackers flood a network server with thousands of false request to crash networks.Like constantly dialing tel no so no one can get through. For example, February 6, 2000:DOS on e-commerce cause 3 hours slow performance in Yahoo.

In conclusion, the threat of online security cannot eliminate regardless the strongest of internet security such as passwords, change of file permissions, back up of computer's data and so on. However, those threats can be reduced through internet securities.