What we have & have-not : e-government in Malaysia

• Main Author: Alhabshi, S.M.
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/10902/1/9__What_We_Have_%26_Have-Not_e-Government_In_Malaysia.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/10902/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

This chapter investigates the challenges and achievements of e-government development in Malaysia. After carefully examining the findings of egovernment ranking world over by the United Nations, The Centre of Public Policy, Brown University, United States of America and Waseda University Institute, Japan; disparities in Malaysia’s e-government ranking amongst the three institutions was evident. It is discernible that the different methodological criteria employed by these institutions served as one of the fundamental factors attributable to the varying results. However, findings from these institutions unearthed some major problems and challenges bedeviling egovernment in Malaysia. This chapter went further to examine the chemistry of e-government in Malaysia to find out how far it has achieved and to ascertain the challenges undermining its further development. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather information. Questionnaires were administered to public officials in federal ministries and departments and 7 e-Government pilot project managers were engaged in interviews. The outcome of the survey concluded that while the Waseda University Institute of egovernment and the United Nations were exposed to adequate information on e-Government development in Malaysia, the Centre of Public Policy, Brown University, USA, lacked such opportunity and exposure. It is pertinent that e-Government development in Malaysia is still developing and as such, for an accelerated and resilient development, this chapter advocates for an overall consolidation of e-Government mechanisms such as regulations, capacity development, security and policy environment.