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We Propose A Quarterly Report Of The Internet And E-Commerce In Malaysia Part of the speech by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong at the DAP dinner in Paka, Terengganu, Malaysia on 26 May 2000 | |||||||
| Seven months ago, the Government announced the establishment of a think-tank to plan and formulate a long-term strategic plan to deal with all aspects of globalisation. An important step is allocating RM1.06 billion to develop information technology. Three months ago, it made public a think-tank, a steering committee and an action plan for knowledge or k-economy. One aspect of the k-economy or Internet economy is the number of persons or companies using Internet for various purposes such as e-commerce. The National Information Technology Council, NITC, or related organisations should be responsible for monitoring Internet penetration and the drawbacks of this new tool. This should be part of the action plan.The number of users who go online either to shop or The number of Internet subscribers in Malaysia is estimated as 1.1 million. By 2002, it is expected to reach 2 million. This is too low for a population of 23 million. On 24 January 2000, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Datin Paduka Rafidah Aziz said that an electronic commerce survey conducted in April 1999 to assess the usage of IT and Internet-related technology among companies | |
registered with Malaysian External Trade Corporation, showed that 68.9 per cent had e-mail facilities, 65.8 per cent had Internet connections and only 38.3 per cent had website or homepage applications. Only 24.3 per cent had online product catalogues. What happen to the companies which are not registered with Malaysian External Trade Corporation? How many of all the Malaysian businesses have Internet access and a homepage? The Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali should also look into this aspect. He remarked on 25 March 2000 that the e-commerce masterplan had been drawnout by three consultants. To make e-commerce more successful, we need data such as the Internet penetration rates that should form part of the research. Apparently, in the United States of America, 42 per cent of all businesses have Internet access and 30 per cent have a homepage. While about the same number have Internet access in Australia, only 15 per cent have a website. The k-economy think tank and steering committee should make it a priority for an agency such as NITC to provide Malaysians with information of Internet growth in businesses and households. We require a quarterly report of the Internet and e-commerce in Malaysia.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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