The evaluation of e-participation in the local government in Malaysia: A case study at Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) Kedah

• Main Author: Nur Rusydina, Khadzali
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: T58.5-58.64 Information technology; HD58.9 Organizational Effectiveness.
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/10784/1/permission%20to%20deposit-grant%20the%20permission-s93834.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/10784/2/s93834_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/10784/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The importance of public participation in governmental decision-making and policy development has gained widespread acceptance and increasingly attracted the interest of academicians, researchers, and policymakers. However, the traditional public participatory method may have limitations that could limit its effectiveness in encouraging public participation. Therefore, the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in public participation platforms has been proposed as a way to overcome these limitations. This approach, known as e-participation, can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the public participation process. Nonetheless, there is still debate surrounding the extent of public participation in local governments through online platforms. The current study has revealed a scarcity of case-based evidence and comprehensive empirical evaluations of e-participation practices in Malaysia. Moreover, little is known about e-participation, especially within the context of local governments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation of e-participation in local governments in Malaysia using a logic model, with reference to Alor Setar City Council as a case study. Qualitative techniques were employed to conduct semi-structured interviews involving the public and local authorities. The obtained data were analysed using ATLAS.ti, a computer-assisted software for qualitative data analysis. The findings show that the level of implementation of e-participation at the Alor Setar City Council was deemed fair, with opportunities for improvement. Despite adequate awareness among the public and facilities for e-participation, their experience in using the e-participation platform was significantly lacking. There are several challenges associated with the effective implementation of e-participation, including the lack of support and involvement from local authority staff, insufficient promotion of e-participation activities, as well as inadequate collaboration between local governments and the public. The lack of monitoring and evaluation of the e-participation system had also hindered its effective implementation. Based on the modified logic model, this study provides various recommendations for the successful implementation of e-participation.