Idris Jala defends 1Malaysia email
Regina LeePublished: May 6, 2011 3:36 PM | Updated: May 6, 2011 4:16 PM
Minister in Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala has taken to the newspapers (and Internet news portals) to defend the 1Malaysia email project, now named ‘MyEmail'.
Minister in Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala has taken to the newspapers (and Internet news portals) to defend the 1Malaysia email project, now named ‘MyEmail'.
Taking out advertorials in several major media outlets, the minister in charge of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) said MyEmail was conceptualised as an Entry Point Project (EPP) in an Economic Transformation Programme lab.
The email provider Tricubes Bhd, Idris (left) said, was selected for the project after a "competitive process", knocking out four other contenders.
"If anyone has any evidence of fraud and corrupt practices, they should come forward with the evidence," he wrote in a question and answer format titled "Truths and Lies about MyEmail".
As for the selection criteria itself, he said, "best-in-practice technology, sustainable business model, track record and security" were adopted by the Malaysia Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) and the Government Integrated Telecommunications Network (GITN).
"MAMPU and GITN adjudged that Tricubes met or surpassed these benchmarks. They have also clarified with Bursa Malaysia that a GN3 status can affect Tricubes' listing status, but the company is not prevented from conducting business as usual.
"It is able to execute business projects, its financial statements are properly drawn up and all its debts and financial obligations are up-to-date," said Idris, referring to the GN3 classification on Tricubes.
Tricubes had previously insisted that it was classified as GN3 when its shareholders' fund dropped to 50 percent lower than the paid-up capital, meaning that it would have a year to submit a regularisation plan to increase its shareholding capital and to look for new business.
Why government did not undertake MyEmail
Addressing one issue after another, Idris also touched on the burning question of why the government could not undertake the MyEmail project itself, instead of outsourcing to the private sector.
"By 'outsourcing' it, the government will avoid having to invest RM50 million and avoid spending money operating the email system. The government's core role is to provide efficient service delivery to the public.
"It should not get into the business of creating communication and service platforms as it may not necessarily have the core competencies to do so," he said.
This is despite Malaysia having one of the most bloated civil service in the world, with one of the highest civil servant-to-population ratio.
No government money in operating costs
Idris also said that despite various agencies being charged 50sen to send an email using the MyEmail service, the government would not not forking out a single sen for the capital expenditure and operating expenditure, which would entirely be borne by Tricubes.
Government correspondence currently costs RM1 on average per mail, and it would be saving half the amount if it took the email route.
"The cost saving is derived from the free email delivery. The remaining cost of 50 sen goes to extracting the information required from the database and presenting them in the respective formats.
"Most agencies do not possess this system, also known as digital bill presentment solution. These two (out of the original five) cost components are not accounted for in the argument on ‘free' email transport by other providers, espoused by the detractors," Idris said.
The MyEmail project was announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as one of the 12 additional Entry Point Projects last month.
Government to pay 50sen per email
However, it raised controversy when it was revealed that the MyEmail may not be completely free of public funds since the government would be charged 50sen per email, despite Najib saying earlier that only private funds would be used.
Apart from the GN3 classification, Tricubes hit another snag when Mavcap, its only funder, which gave out a RM5.5 million facility to the company, stated that it was not meant for the MyEmail project.
Sounding agitated at times, Idris used the term ‘distort the truth' several times, apparently targeting hardcore detractors as he took the opportunity to set the record straight from the government's perspective on the MyEmail project.
Apart from a 25-point Frequently Asked Questions, Idris also wrote a 10-point ‘Important Facts about MyEmail'.
The advertorials were run in several mainstream dailies, including New Straits Times, Berita Harian and China Press. It also appears in Malaysiakini.
Taking out advertorials in several major media outlets, the minister in charge of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) said MyEmail was conceptualised as an Entry Point Project (EPP) in an Economic Transformation Programme lab.
The email provider Tricubes Bhd, Idris (left) said, was selected for the project after a "competitive process", knocking out four other contenders."If anyone has any evidence of fraud and corrupt practices, they should come forward with the evidence," he wrote in a question and answer format titled "Truths and Lies about MyEmail".
As for the selection criteria itself, he said, "best-in-practice technology, sustainable business model, track record and security" were adopted by the Malaysia Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) and the Government Integrated Telecommunications Network (GITN).
"MAMPU and GITN adjudged that Tricubes met or surpassed these benchmarks. They have also clarified with Bursa Malaysia that a GN3 status can affect Tricubes' listing status, but the company is not prevented from conducting business as usual.
"It is able to execute business projects, its financial statements are properly drawn up and all its debts and financial obligations are up-to-date," said Idris, referring to the GN3 classification on Tricubes.
Tricubes had previously insisted that it was classified as GN3 when its shareholders' fund dropped to 50 percent lower than the paid-up capital, meaning that it would have a year to submit a regularisation plan to increase its shareholding capital and to look for new business.
Why government did not undertake MyEmail
Addressing one issue after another, Idris also touched on the burning question of why the government could not undertake the MyEmail project itself, instead of outsourcing to the private sector.
"By 'outsourcing' it, the government will avoid having to invest RM50 million and avoid spending money operating the email system. The government's core role is to provide efficient service delivery to the public."It should not get into the business of creating communication and service platforms as it may not necessarily have the core competencies to do so," he said.
This is despite Malaysia having one of the most bloated civil service in the world, with one of the highest civil servant-to-population ratio.
No government money in operating costs
Idris also said that despite various agencies being charged 50sen to send an email using the MyEmail service, the government would not not forking out a single sen for the capital expenditure and operating expenditure, which would entirely be borne by Tricubes.
Government correspondence currently costs RM1 on average per mail, and it would be saving half the amount if it took the email route.
"The cost saving is derived from the free email delivery. The remaining cost of 50 sen goes to extracting the information required from the database and presenting them in the respective formats.
"Most agencies do not possess this system, also known as digital bill presentment solution. These two (out of the original five) cost components are not accounted for in the argument on ‘free' email transport by other providers, espoused by the detractors," Idris said.
The MyEmail project was announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as one of the 12 additional Entry Point Projects last month.
Government to pay 50sen per email
However, it raised controversy when it was revealed that the MyEmail may not be completely free of public funds since the government would be charged 50sen per email, despite Najib saying earlier that only private funds would be used.
Apart from the GN3 classification, Tricubes hit another snag when Mavcap, its only funder, which gave out a RM5.5 million facility to the company, stated that it was not meant for the MyEmail project.Sounding agitated at times, Idris used the term ‘distort the truth' several times, apparently targeting hardcore detractors as he took the opportunity to set the record straight from the government's perspective on the MyEmail project.
Apart from a 25-point Frequently Asked Questions, Idris also wrote a 10-point ‘Important Facts about MyEmail'.
The advertorials were run in several mainstream dailies, including New Straits Times, Berita Harian and China Press. It also appears in Malaysiakini.
View Comments0