Malaysian Civil service thread

[travellator]

Immigration Dept Goes World Class

COUNTER SERVICE... Malaysians can expect their passport application will be processed within two hours at the Immigration Department.
By Cik Rashidah Abd Ghani

PUTRAJAYA, March 5 (Bernama) -- Skip the tedious paper work. Just submit your mykad and your application for a passport will be processed within two hours. It is as simple as that.

This is what the public can expect when dealing with the Immigration Department.

The department is scheduled to introduce the paperless concept in the middle of the year in an effort to promote a world class public delivery system.

"Just submit your mykad, as all data needed to process the application can be retrieved from the National Registration Department. We can do this via the biometric technology".

Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Wahid Md Don told Bernama this recently.

Wahid said, to be world class and the best among the Ministry of Home Affairs departments, the Immigration Department has shortened the time taken for its nine public transactions.

Among them are those for:

*Passport applications -- two hours now, from three days previously·

*Passport replacement -- two hours now from 24 hours previously·

*Application for housemaid -- 3 days from 7 days previously·

*Social visit pass -- 3 days from 30 days previously·

*Student pass -- 7 days from 14 days previously·

*Malaysia My Second Home -- 21 days from 30 days previously·

*Approval for Work Permit -- 7 days from 14 days previously·

*Issuance of Work Permit -- 3 days from 7 days previously.

Looking back, the time taken to process passport application has been greatly reduced. From three months in 1957, to one month in 1979. Then, it was down to two weeks in 1986, and shortened to one week in 1991.

Processing of passport applications were further expedited to only five days in 1995, three days in 2000, 24 hours in 2004 to only two hours since 2007.

"In terms of service delivery, we have speeded up the processing of passport application, and this in turn has resulted in many changes and development within the department," he said.

No Congestion

The shorter processing time has eliminated congestion at the counters.

Wahid said the use of kiosks, executive counters as well as that for senior citizens have contributed to the comfort of customers.

The kiosk, introduced early this year, has enabled the public to easily pay for their passport application as it functions like an ATM.

Hence the public can pay via the e-payment, cash and credit card.

To date, there are 13 such kiosks in the Klang Valley and Sabah. By the end of the year, 43 such kiosks will be available nationwide, at the cost of RM16 million.

"Between 300 and 500 clients are able to use the kiosks a day when it was introduced in the Federal Territory, reducing the queues at the counters," he said.

Use of the Internet to download application forms, which goes well with expatriates, has further reduced the queues at the immigration counters.

Nevertheless, congestion still happens during pre and post-holidays and festive seasons when clients rush to complete their transactions, he said.

Vision

Wahid said the department is the first agency in the world to use the microchip in its passports.

Introduced in 1998, the microchip stores biometric data like the fingerprint and applicants photograph.

The microchip has been upgraded to that of the second generation in 2006 and now it is being further enhanced to the third generation.

"More safety features will be incorporated into the Malaysian passport, and this will take some time.

"We are always looking for ways to provide a simple, fast and accurate service.

We now have chip-based passports that can be issued within two hours upon application.

"There is no other country in the world that can issue a passport faster than Malaysia. For example in developed countries like Australia, it is 10 days while in Singapore, three days," he highlighted.

Despite the fast issuance of passports, Malaysia is still able to maintain the documents safety features.

The Malaysian passport has 17 overall safety features as well as 27 fine safety elements.

This microchip-based document can be used for auto-gate exits like that available at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The passport can also be used to check whether its holder is on the barred list.

"For example, if the court has suspended or detain a persons passport, then the person cannot leave the country. It is the same if there are requests from the Inland Revenue Department, EPF and PTPTN, we will assist," he said.

On the departments electronic application system (IDEAS), Wahid said it allows web searches for the public on matters like submitting new applications and extending the permit for foreign maids.

To use this facility, the clients (of registered agencies) can obtain their respective user ID and password from the Immigrations Department Foreign Workers and Housemaid Division.

Elimination of Disembarkation Card

In line with development of the Immigration Control System under the Malaysian Immigration System (SIM), the government has decided to abolish the use of the Disembarkation Card IMM.26 (white card) at all access/exit points in the country effective Nov 1, 2007.

Hence, foreigners coming into Malaysia now no longer need to fill up this form.

However at checkpoints that do not have the SIM facility, the requirement to fill up this card still exists.

This exemption is in line with the governments aspiration to provide paperless service apart from hastening the movement of tourists at the various entry points to the country, he said.

As of last Jan 24, there are 44 entry points to the country equipped with the SIM facility of which 12 are for air travel, nine (land) and 23 (sea).

Future Plans

Wahid said the department plans to set up another academy, in addition to the existing one at Port Dickson, to meet the needs in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Malaysian Immigration Academy at Port Dickson, which began operations in 2003, is able to train between 250 and 300 participants within three months to produce efficient, productive and IT-literate immigration personnel.

Wahid said the department also holds forensic training programmes for identification of forged and fake documents as well as passports with assistance from foreign experts.

He said the department collaborates closely with immigration authorities in Australia, Netherland, Britain, and United States and Asean countries.

He said the department also deploys its officers in exchange programmes held at the airports in Australia and Amsterdam, to create networking and enhance their skills to curb international crimes including human trafficking.

Secutity Application

Wahid said the Immigration Department is in the midst of finalising its single platform-based system, which has 13 applications.

Among them is the security application at airport, sea and land checkpoints, enabling the immigration officers to verify details of tourists on line.

So far 128 checkpoints have been gazetted for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the mobile system allows the i-kad identification of foreign workers status.

"If they have the i-kad, the immigration authorities can verify their status there and then, whether they are legal foreign workers or the otherwise. If they do not have (the card), then it is only sufficient if they can provide the passport number or the biometric can be used.

"Therefore a single platform enables us to deal and link up with other departments," he said.

For the departments slogan of Mesra, Amanah dan Tegas (Friendly, Honest and Firm) and Khidmat dengan Senyuman (Service With A Smile), Wahid said each of the agencys staff is encouraged to learn Mandarin and Arab for foreign tourists to feel respected and honoured when they arrive in this country.

The department also has plans to set up its branch offices to assist the expatriate investors, like in Kulim (Kedah) and Gua Musang (Kelantan) apart from a forensic laboratory to detect fake and forged immigration documents.

[OshHisham]

wahh...immigration department also need a special thread ke..? i think better we make this thread into 'civil service thread' or somethin...

[forrestcat]

if malaysia immigration dept(or any malaysian gov. dept) is world class then pigs can now fly

[OshHisham]

we all know you are in australia now, doesn't mean all about malaysia are shit...

ingat sikit...awk tu org melayu malaysia, bukan orang putih australia..

[nazrey]

ePetrol in talks with foreign govts to provide cashless payment solutions
by Yong Yen Nie, 16 Sep 2008 10:56 AM THEEDGEDAILY



(From left) Bank Negara Malaysia governor Nor Shamsiah Yunus, ePetrol
Holding Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain and EON Bank Group
CEO Albert Lau at the launch of ePetrol MyKad payment service with EON
Bank in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: ePetrol Holding Sdn Bhd, which is backed by Dialog Group Bhd co-founder and major shareholder Ngau Boon Keat, is in talks with two foreign governments to provide cashless payment solutions for fuel purchases in their countries.

ePetrol chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain said yesterday the payment solutions provider had been approached by two governments — one in the Middle East and another in Southeast Asia — to set up similar systems for cashless payments at petrol kiosks. Speaking at a press briefing after launching ePetrol MyKad payments service with EON Bank Bhd, he said: “They heard about our systems and they are quite excited about it.” However, Abdul Rashid declined to reveal more due to the confidential nature of the talks it had with the two governments.

He added that ePetrol was also in talks with three local banks, whereby two of them were already in advanced stages of discussions to roll out the cashless payment system by year-end or the first quarter of next year.

“We are quite optimistic that this system would catch the attention of other banks and the public, given that every citizen of this country has a MyKad,” Abdul Rashid said, adding that the system would also be extended to all petrol stations in the country, including East Malaysia.

Ngau said ePetrol had invested more than RM100 million in developing the software to enable petrol station purchases to be made using MyKad. He added the cashless purchases would initially be available for payments made in petrol stations, including food items in their convenience stores, but would eventually be available for purchases of goods in supermarkets in the future.

On another matter, Abdul Rashid said ePetrol’s proposal to the government to set up a payment system whereby fuel subsidies could be allocated to lower- to medium-income group when they made the purchases, was still on the table.

“Our systems are capable of fitting in a subsidy allocation at a fraction of a cost, which would be a major savings for the government.

“We had proposed to the government when it was looking at having a fuel subsidy package, but the decision is not in our hands. It’s up to the government and the various committees to decide,” he said. Ngau said ePetrol would test the feasibility of the rebates system for certain income groups that purchase fuel using MyKad to ensure that the system could be implemented without leakages.

“We are providing a rebate of 15 sen per litre for a maximum of 150 kilometres per month for 250 EON Bank customers that will use this system under our pilot programme, as part of our effort to test the subsidy allocation component,” he said, adding that ePetrol would absorb the entire costs of the rebates given out to the customers.

Under the two-month pilot programme that began on Sept 1, the selected EON Bank customers would be able to use their MyKad to make fuel purchases at 11 petrol stations comprising BHPetrol, Caltex and Dialog-owned petrol kiosks in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.

EON Bank group consumer banking head Michael Lor said the bank would expect 30,000 customers to sign up for the cashless payment for fuel purchase system from November onwards.

“We are charging a one-off registration fee of only RM6, and it is an extremely competitive fee compared with other debit and credit cards,” he said, adding that other customers would only require to open a savings account with EON Bank to enjoy this facility.

On another matter, he said EON Bank would invest about RM30 million to refurbish 30 existing and new branches around the country.

Note
MyKad: The Government Multipurpose Card

[nazrey]

Chicken and pizza for 120 homes
Monday September 22, 2008
Story and photo by EDWARD RAJENDRA
TheStar

ORPHANS, old folk and those in charity homes nationwide enjoyed piping hot chicken and pizza that were delivered to the 120 homes nationwide under the Ramadan charity food programme.

Close to 8,000 meals were dished out on Wednesday and Thursday to share the spirit of breaking fast under the Ramadan Charity Food Delivery that was organised by KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd and QSR Brands Bhd, the operators of KFC and Pizza Hut respectively.

KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd and QSR Brands Bhd chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim flagged off the charity deliveries at the Ayamas Food Corporation Sdn Bhd in Port Klang.

At the simple ceremony, 250 orphans from Selangor Sekolah Khas Kanak-Kanak Pekak, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Miskin Klang, Taman Pendidikan Anak-Anak Yatim Darul Kifayah and Good Samaritan Home were treated to a dinner.

Children were given duit raya and Hari Raya goodie bags containing cookies.

Muhammad Ali said the company believed in being supportive of all efforts at improving and enhancing the lives and well being of the community and society at large,” he added.

[nazrey]

Proton i.Care sports new look
By Zuraimi Ismail Published: 2008/09/23
BusinessTimes



PROTON Holdings Bhd's distribution arm, Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, has given its 24-hour assist team a new look and improved services.

The Proton i.Care 24-hour Assist team members will now be wearing new orange uniforms. They will also get new Proton Personas, sporting the new orange colour, to replace the six-year-old Juara.

Proton Edar chief execu-tive officer Mohamad Shu- kor Ibrahim said Proton i.Care now has 25 mobile units stationed at 25 Proton Edar service branches nationwide.

The company plans to increase the mobile unit number to 30 by adding another five Personas by year-end, he said.

Shukor said Proton i.Care is designed to give customers a "peace of mind", especially those who need emergency assistance when their cars break down.

"In an emergency, this service is important to ensure that both our customers and their cars are in safe hands," Shukor said at the launch of the new-look Proton i.Care in Shah Alam yesterday.

To match the new look, Proton i.Care offers more value-added services.

Customers who call the Proton i.Care hotline number 1300 880 888 for assistance will receive a free eight-point car inspection and a free Daring Club membership.

Additionally, customers who have their cars towed away, will be given a complimentary drop-off at the nearest public transportation station.

For the coming festive holidays, Proton i.Care is organising a special Hari Raya campaign to assist Proton owners travelling back to their hometowns.

The campaign will see Proton i.Care service units stationed at several Petronas service stations along major highways on September 27 and 28.

[nazrey]

Malaysia to further develop services sector
By Rupa Damodaran Published: 2008/09/24
BusinessTimes

MALAYSIA will further develop the services sector, including liberalising some of its sub-sectors, to boost the economy and maintain its resilience, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Developing the sector will attract investments and create employment opportunities," he said at a media briefing after chairing the second national economic council meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.

Abdullah said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) will prepare a detailed paper suggesting which sub-sectors will be liberalised, to be discussed at the next council meeting.

The services sector comprises a broad range of services including regional establishments, support services, MSC status companies, real estate (housing), transport, energy, telecommunications, distributive trade, hotels and tourism, financial services, health services and educational services.

Abdullah also said that investment promotion efforts will be increased in regions flush with surplus funds.

"These areas will include the Middle East, Korea, China, Japan and India where we hope to increase investments and boost trade."

Trade prospects in the region, meanwhile, have increased with the growth of intra-Asean trade.

Intra-Asean trade contributes 26 per cent of the total trade, offsetting a decline in Malaysia's trade with the US, its biggest trading partner.

Asked if any stimulus package was being considered amidst downside risks to the economy, Abdullah said: "We've not decided specifically on any stimulus package. We've spent a lot of money and set aside a lot as part of our social safety net.

"There are enough funds set aside under the various programmes which will help increase the disposable income of the people."

Earlier in his opening remarks, he said Malaysia faces the task of sustaining its growth momentum and cushioning the impact of a possible economic slowdown.

The banking and financial sector in Malaysia continues to remain strong and resilient while its exposure to the distressed assets and failing financial institutions in the US is limited, he added.

"Our greater concern is the weaker export demand and investment flows into Malaysia as a result of the economic slowdown in the US and Europe and also with Japan weighing down on the regional economies."

[nazrey]

Petronas launches 24-hour drive-thru convenience store
By Kamarul Yunus Published: 2008/09/25
BusinessTimes



PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd is offering the convenience of a 24-hour drive-thru at its convenience stores in service stations, believed to be the first in the world.

It launched the first Mesra Drive-Thru in USJ20, Subang Jaya yesterday, providing greater convenience to its customers who are always on the go and require faster services.

Its senior general manager (retail business division) Mohd Fadzlan Abdul Samad said the company aims to develop 15 more drive-thru convenience stores (c-stores Drive-Thru) at selected service stations by 2010, which will cost an investment of RM400,000 each.

"We have not finalised the locations for the c-store Drive-Thru, but it will mostly be in the urban and suburban areas where the lifestyle is sophisticated and people are always on the rush.

"We are also proposing to incorporate the c-store Drive-Thru concept in the design of all Petronas Dagangan's future service stations," he told reporters after the launch.

Apart from offering the 2,500-odd items available at the existing Kedai Mesra convenience stores, which includes e-Pay and Touch & Go services, Mohd Fadzlan said the drive-thru service also features a display of 30 fast moving and hot selling items that are specially selected based on sales performance at Kedai Mesra.

Besides the c-store Drive-Thru, the Petronas service station in USJ20 also offers a quick-serve restaurant and banking services that include an automated teller machine (ATM) and a cash deposit machine.

"There are plans to develop a full-scale e-banking at our Kedai Mesra outlets. Talks with the banking players are ongoing on how to improve the banking and financial services at our c-stores," Mohd Fadzlan said.

He added that the introduction of the c-store Drive-Thru will help boost revenue of its convenient stores, which contribute significantly to Petronas Dagangan's revenue.

Petronas has more than 900 service stations across the country, including five hyperstations, 553 Kedai Mesra, 45 quick serve restaurants and 657 ATMs.

[nazrey]

Govt Approves Another RM100 Mln For RMR Projects
September 25, 2008 19:04 PM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The government has approved a RM100 million additional allocation for housing projects under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) scheme this year and in 2009.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the allocation would enable Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minister of Finance Incorporated, build 1,500 RMR units nationwide.

He said the scheme was aimed at helping people with household income below RM1,500 to own a more comfortable house since it would be difficult for them to secure loans from financial institutions.

"However, an applicant must own the land on which the house is to be built or a relative who owns a piece of land and has given a statutory approval for him to occupy the land.

"To be eligible, the applicant's age must also between 21 and 65 years," he told reporters at the Finance Ministry here today.

Najib who is Finance Minister, also said the price of a house measuring between 700 and 900 square feet had been raised to between RM70,000 in the Peninsular and RM80,000 in Sabah and Sarawak from between RM55,000 in the Peninsular and RM76,000 in Sabah and Sarawak.

The price had been raised because of the increased cost, he said.

He said that under the scheme, an owner would bear only two-thirds of the cost of building the house in the form of an interest-free loan according to the Al-Qardhul Hassan concept while the government would pay the balance.

"The owner will only be required to pay RM150 per month for 23 to 29 years," he said.

He said that since its introduction in 2002, 6,551 RMR units had been built costing RM310 million while another 6,263 units costing RM425 million were under construction and were expected to be completed by March 2009.

"The government hopes that the additional allocation would enable more people receive the benefit especially those in rural areas and therefore enjoy a better life," he said.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

MAS to allow web check-ins for overseas travel
NST Online » Local News 2008/09/25

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines customers in Malay-sia will be able to check-in via the worldwide web and self-serve kiosks for international travel by the end of the year.

In a statement here today, senior general manager (transition management) Dr Amin Khan said international customers would be able to do web check-ins by next year.

"They can also select their preferred seats online 24 hours before flight departure and print their boarding passes."

Amin said customers doing web and kiosk check-ins could also drop off their luggage, if any, at designated airport counters.

He said MAS customers on flights to Association of Southeast Asian Nations destinations could now bypass the queues by checking in via the web or kiosks located at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"These check-in services are available for travel to 16 cities including Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila and Phnom Penh, in addition to all destinations in Malaysia." -- Bernama

[nazrey]

Smart Wash to go regional
Published: 2008/08/29 By Azlan Abu Bakar
BusinessTimes



HOME-GROWN launderette franchisor Smart Wash Sdn Bhd plans to expand into regional markets next year, with Indonesia and Singapore as initial targets.

Its manager Syed Saiful Adzim said the company is now in talks with interested parties in both countries and hopes to conclude the deals and appoint them as franchisees by the year-end.

"We plan to open up at least three Smart Wash outlets in Indonesia, namely in Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya, and another three in Singapore using our franchise concept," he said.

These outlets are due to open in the middle of 2009, Syed Saiful told reporters after the launch of Smart Wash's first launderette that uses the Aqua Wet Cleaning system in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, recently.

The outlet, owned by its franchisee Sutera Idaman Enterprise, was officiated by the company's vice-executive chairman Tan Sri Adzmi Abdul Wahab.

Also present were Smart Wash director Mas Nadjwa Datuk Paduka Rahmat and Sutera Idaman director Darwis Isahak.

Smart Wash, the country's only laundry operator to franchise its business, was set up in 1998 with a paid-up capital of RM2 million.

The business was inspired by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who wanted a new approach to assist city dwellers, particularly those living in apartments to wash their clothes.

The company, which is wholly owned by diversified Group Yasmin Holdings Sdn Bhd, began franchising its services in 2004 and now has about 54 outlets nationwide.

It offers four types of launderettes from coin operated, conventional wash and iron, the Lagoon system and the latest, the Aqua Wet Cleaning system.

Smart Wash hopes to attract another 20 franchisees by the end of 2008.

Smart Wash Sdn Bhd
http://www.smartwash2u.com

Smart Wash Sdn Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of JM Venture Sdn Bhd was formed in 1998. We are the first franchise laundry company in Malaysia. The laundry concept was proposed by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development to provide a cost effective and reliable launderette to high rise residential tenements. Today, our target market includes flat, apartment and condominium dwellers, colleges, higher learning institutions, petrol stations and supermarkets. Now as we are expanding, new re-branding and concept has been introduced. Together with a new system and multi services, we believe we will grow to a new higher level

[nazrey]

E-govt services firm wants to move to main board
Published: 2008/10/01
BusinessTimes



MY E.G. SERVICES Bhd (MyEG), one of the country's three E-government services concessionaires, said it has applied for a transfer to the main board from the Mesdaq market.

"This proposed transfer to the main board will not only increase the capital base of the group to enhance our current operations, but also better reflect our position in the eyes of the local and regional investors," MyEG executive chairman Datuk Dr Norraesah Mohamad said in a statement yesterday.

It has proposed to undertake a private placement of up to 25.25 million new shares of 10 sen each, representing up to 10 per cent of the current issued and paid-up share capital of RM25.25 million.


The private placement is expected to raise proceeds of some RM20 million for the company's capital expenditure, advertising and marketing promotional expenses as well as working capital.

MyEG has also proposed a six-for-five bonus issue, to be implemented after the private placement. The bonus issue entails an issuance of up to 333.3 million new MyEG shares.

The proposed corporate exercise is expected to increase MyEG's issued and paid-up share capital from RM25.25 million at present, up to RM61.11 million, comprising 611,050,000 shares of RM0.10 each.

MyEG was listed on January 12 2007.

The group posted a net profit of RM49.28 million on revenue of RM14.78 million in the financial year ended June 30 2008.

[nazrey]

MyEG Services
Plug In (BM)



Plug In (Eng)

[daeng_jal]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Govt Approves Another RM100 Mln For RMR Projects
September 25, 2008 19:04 PM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The government has approved a RM100 million additional allocation for housing projects under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) scheme this year and in 2009.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the allocation would enable Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minister of Finance Incorporated, build 1,500 RMR units nationwide.

He said the scheme was aimed at helping people with household income below RM1,500 to own a more comfortable house since it would be difficult for them to secure loans from financial institutions.

"However, an applicant must own the land on which the house is to be built or a relative who owns a piece of land and has given a statutory approval for him to occupy the land.

"To be eligible, the applicant's age must also between 21 and 65 years," he told reporters at the Finance Ministry here today.

Najib who is Finance Minister, also said the price of a house measuring between 700 and 900 square feet had been raised to between RM70,000 in the Peninsular and RM80,000 in Sabah and Sarawak from between RM55,000 in the Peninsular and RM76,000 in Sabah and Sarawak.

The price had been raised because of the increased cost, he said.

He said that under the scheme, an owner would bear only two-thirds of the cost of building the house in the form of an interest-free loan according to the Al-Qardhul Hassan concept while the government would pay the balance.

"The owner will only be required to pay RM150 per month for 23 to 29 years," he said.

He said that since its introduction in 2002, 6,551 RMR units had been built costing RM310 million while another 6,263 units costing RM425 million were under construction and were expected to be completed by March 2009.

"The government hopes that the additional allocation would enable more people receive the benefit especially those in rural areas and therefore enjoy a better life," he said.

-- BERNAMA

thanks tn this project. now most people had realized their dream to build their houses in their respected kampumg. which is hard before as no bank will give u a loan. but the downside of it is that my kampung had been litered by the same design/colour houses. the should provide some variation to the sceme.

[TWK90]

Originally Posted by daeng_jal

thanks tn this project. now most people had realized their dream to build their houses in their respected kampumg. which is hard before as no bank will give u a loan. but the downside of it is that my kampung had been litered by the same design/colour houses. the should provide some variation to the sceme.

Indeed, variety is desirable, however, i think it is because the design is made common throughout one project, the price per house unit can be lower to be built....economy of scale...

[nazrey]

Skali: 152 upgraded websites by year-end
By Zaidi Isham Ismail Published: 2008/10/03
BusinessTimes



INFORMATION communications technology (ICT) company the Skali Group is on track to deliver a total of 152 upgraded websites to its clients by year-end.

Skali president and co-founder Aimi Aizal Nasharuddin said the firm has been tasked to upgrade 102 websites belonging to all local councils in all states while the remaining 50 websites to government ministries.

"The upgrading of the websites is part of the Managed Portal Services project to smoothen e-business activities between the government and the public online such as fee payments," Aimi told Business Times in Kuala Lumpur recently.

The Managed Portal Services project is the national information and communications technology project which was launched in October last year.

The first phase of the project worth RM258 million involves developing and maintaining a total of 152 websites, of which 102 are local government sites and 50 federal government sites until 2014.

Managed Portal Services is set up to help the development of human capital in the ICT industry by creating job opportunities for 4,000 unemployed graduates, especially in the ICT sector.

The upgraded websites will act as a single touch liasing point between the public and the government.

"Since we launched the Managed Portal Services project, a total of 250 unemployed graduates have come on board and they get to boost self esteem, learn ICT technical know how, communications marketing and other skills," said Aimi.

Skali which has an order book of RM300 million holds 30 per cent of the country's data centre business with double-digit growth year-on-year.

The E-business specialist group also aims to list on the Mesdaq market in the future and wants to enhance its presence in emerging markets such as in the Asia-Pacific region to fuel growth.

The overseas market currently constitutes 10 per cent of Skali's revenue and the plan is to increase the figure to 30 per cent over the next one year.

[nazrey]

HCity aims to be top online hotel bookings firm
Published: 2008/10/03

HCITY Sdn Bhd, which offers online hotel reservation service through its website HolidayCity.Com, aims to become the leading provider of such a service in Malaysia.

Currently, HolidayCity.Com's service covers more than 19,000 hotels in 900 destinations worldwide and receives more than one million customers per month, its Marketing and Communications manager Hanim Shukor said.

"The HolidayCity website offers many conveniences not only for reservations but also informations on hotels including their pricing, availability, location, interesting photographs and also a column for feedback from those who have stayed in these hotels," she told Bernama recently.

Through the online service, clients have the convenience of dealing with the chosen hotels and they also get special deals, she said.

HolidayCity.com will act as the agent for the related hotels and will only provide the reservation service for clients without being involved in any payments.

"All payments must be made directly to the hotels where the reservations have been made, upon arrival at the hotels," she said.

She stressed that HolidayCity.Com will not be involved in any payment transaction, explaining that it was to provide an assurance of safety for clients amid the cases of cheating involving payments made online.

HolidayCity.Com hoped that this proactive measure will further push up the Malaysian company's brandname and make it a leading provider of such service in Malaysia.

Hanim also said that the service will indirectly help to bring in more tourists to the country.

In Malaysia alone, HolidayCity.Com has formed partnership with about 200 hotels giving it the potential to further expand its networking in hotels in the country.

HolidayCity.Com is confident that the number will rise along with the growth in the number of hotels coming up in the country. - Bernama

[nazrey]

e-Kesihatan plan taken away from private firm and could be cheaper
Monday October 6, 2008
By TEH ENG HOCK
TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will scrap the controversial plan to allow a private company to run its medical check-up scheme for commercial vehicle drivers.

The scheme, called e-Kesihatan, will instead be handled by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Under the revamp, the fees for medical check-ups would be lower than the RM80 proposed earlier, the tests would only cover relevant ones, and more doctors and not just a selected panel would be allowed to conduct the medical check-ups.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he held discussions with various parties including the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Health Ministry, industry players and the medical fraternity before revamping the scheme.

He said weaknesses in the original e-Kesihatan scheme were identified and improved upon.

The original e-Kesihatan programme, which was to have started on Oct 1 last year, would have seen medical check-up results of commercial vehicle drivers being electronically transmitted from panel clinics and laboratories to JPJ.

The JPJ would then issue or renew a licence once the medical check-up result is seen.

The concession for the scheme was given to Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd, which was also allowed to maintain a database of the drivers.

The move to appoint Supremme Systems as well as the limited number of panel clinics and the high fees for check-ups drew criticism from the Malaysian Medical Association and associations representing the commercial vehicle drivers.

The opposition resulted in the ministry shelving the scheme.

The e-Kesihatan scheme was originally proposed to curb fraud in commercial vehicle driver medical check-ups where medical approvals were said to be “sold”.

Ong said with the revocation of the private company’s role in the scheme, certain legal aspects had to be sorted out.

Ong said the programme would now be expanded to accommodate any doctor registered with the Health Ministry. “We want to do it in a way where it is not monopolised by groups or cartels,” he said.

Ong also wanted the fees to be revised downwards from the earlier RM80.

He said the format and content of the medical tests would also be revised to ensure that only relevant tests were carried out.

Ong said he expected JPJ to finalise the programme by the end of the year, after which it would be tabled to the Cabinet and rolled out early next year.

“JPJ must reconstitute their entire format and modus operandi before submitting the proposal to me for consideration,” he said.

[nazrey]

New system lets Immigration teams check documents on the spot
Monday October 6, 2008
By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY
TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: Several hundred illegals were found on-the-spot to be carrying forged work permits or had overstayed their visas by Immigration Department enforcement officers using a new hand-held reader.

Introduced in March this year, the Mobile Immigration Enforcement System (MIES) enabled officers to immediately check the validity of the foreign workers’ passports and visas during raids.

Immigration director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said the MIES helped speed up the process of identifying illegal immigrants carrying false documents. Illegals caught with false documents were detained, fined or deported, he said.

“The MIES has been highly effective because in the past suspected illegals had to be brought back to the department to check if they had legitimate visas.

“By carrying the MIES reader, enforcement officers are able to access the database for on-the-spot checks,” he said.

The MIES is based on the biometric system which can read the MyKad, I-Kad and passport, making verification easier for enforcement teams, he said.

Mahmood said the department was also working on curbing and wiping out corruption among its staff.

“We have changed our motto to ‘Deliver with Integrity’ in our attempt to stamp out corruption. My staff must take it as their mission to exercise integrity at all times because we are a service-oriented department.”