Thread: Malaysia defends email project

Malaysia defends email project
6/05/2011

Malaysia on Friday defended a multi-million dollar plan to provide email accounts to its citizens against accusations of cronyism and waste.


Shown here in 2007, Malaysian minister in charge of government reform Idris Jala and the Malaysian government defended a multi-million dollar plan to provide email accounts to its citizens against accusations of cronyism and waste.

The government last month said technology firm Tricubes would carry out the 50 million ringgit ($17 million) scheme to set up new email accounts for people to receive government mail.

The choice of Tricubes, which faces delisting from the local bourse over financial irregularities, has been widely criticised, while opponents also say the project is redundant as most Internet users hold free email addresses.

The government defended the selection of Tricubes in advertorials in several major daily newspapers, adding that the email service would save 200 million ringgit over the next decade, halving the 1 ringgit cost of posting a letter.

"A competitive selection process was undertaken to ensure high technical standards and the right business model are adopted at the lowest cost and highest quality," Idris Jala, minister in charge of government reform, said in the two-page advertorial.

Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua urged the government to disclose further details on how the contract was awarded to Tricubes.

"At best, it's the government not knowing what they are doing. At worst, it could be the government granting concessions to crony companies," Pua told AFP.

The email scheme is the second major project to face strong opposition after the government last October announced the construction of a 100-storey, $1.6 billion mega tower.

A survey by an independent research firm found almost two-thirds of Malaysians opposed the plan, with many saying that money would better spent on education, healthcare and public transport.

Najib's administration faces accusations of economic mismanagement and abuse of power despite implementing plans to reform the government and transform the economy, ahead of polls widely expected to be called within the next year.

bangkokpost.com

What happens if you don't have internet access ?

Originally Posted by Thetyim

What happens if you don't have internet access ?

Given the proliferation of net cafes , I suspect you would be in deepest darkest Borneo for that to happen .

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by Thetyim

What happens if you don't have internet access ?

Given the proliferation of net cafes , I suspect you would be in deepest darkest Borneo for that to happen .

There will be millions who don't use the internet for one reason or another.

This is just $17 million given to a company so a brown envelope can be delivered back to those responsible for the decision, and nothing more.

The government last month said technology firm Tricubes would carry out the 50 million ringgit ($17 million) scheme to set up new email accounts for people to receive government mail.

That's something like a dollar a go to set up an email account. Nice work.

^^^
So instead of the government paying for stamps the addressees have to pay to access the internet.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

^^^
So instead of the government paying for stamps the addressees have to pay to access the internet.

One assumes they're paying the $17 mill as well....

THey plan to call it Bumi-Mail. Hardly ever works, but subsidized by the Govt!!

It'll only be bumis who use it anyway, if it gets off the ground.