DAP fully supports the statement by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad that there is a need for Malaysia to switch to use electronic methods to facilitate Government and public interaction even before the completion of the new Prime Minister’s Office in the new administrative capital in Putrajaya in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) next year.
The government had spent billions of ringgit for its computerisation programmes since the 1960s and there is no reason why the Government is unable to begin to provide online services to the people through the Internet when it has all the infrastructure capabilities and resources to do so.
The Government has announced its aim to be the first country in the world whose civil service qualify for the ISO 9000 quality standard by the year 2000, and this is an added reason why electronic government should be introduced without having to wait for the completion of Putrajaya next August as other governments which had not announced any aim for their civil service to qualify for ISO 9000 are already quite advanced in introducing electronic government services.
The Malaysian government does not lack the technology to immediately introduce online services as the problem is whether the political and bureaucratic leadership has the commitment, will and vision to take the bold step to make full use of the available IT resources to provide faster, better and more convenient services and information to the people through the Internet.
I would propose that the Government present a White Paper to Parliament next month on its plans for the immediate introduction of electronic government as well as annual on-line government expansion plans until the year 2000.
All Ministries should be given two weeks to present a list of online government services they could introduce within this year, and another two weeks to finalise online government expansion plans which they could introduce every year until 2000.
This Government Online White Paper should incorporate plans by the various State Governments and local authorities to introduce electronic public services at their respective levels.
This White Paper on electronic government in Malaysia should be the subject of a special debate in the next Parliamentary meeting, which will be held from March 24 to May 8, in order to herald the government resolve not only to catch up with other countries by immediately introducing electronic government but to induct all Malaysians into the information age through a nation-wide system of public electronic kiosks to allow for easy electronic access by members of the public to the government.
(2/2/97)