1Malaysia email.com.why

A writing class dissects a proposed government project, creatively.

THE positive, we decided, instead of a fatalistic focus. As a group we strove to justify the worthiness of the 1Malaysia Email initiative, instead of slipping into our favourite pastime of bashing yet another ill-conceived government idea.

It was a mixed group of participants last weekend, at a writing workshop titled Get it, Write. The group was a microcosm of Malaysia. Teenagers and the middle-aged; students, young executives and an employer; men and women equally represented. Diverse, distinctive and decidedly vocal.

As part of a mind-mapping session before composing a piece of writing, we brainstormed for ideas, as we collectively planned a composition. We finally decided on the 1Malaysia Email project because we knew so little about it. Even less than school bullying and soaring property prices. That’s always a sound premise to begin with, I think, as writing is a form of discovery.

Yet we must admit that although we wanted to be optimistic about this project, in the beginning we struggled to list the benefits of having a 1Malaysia Email account. It wasn’t easy to reach a consensus either, in the face of the group’s many diverse and dissenting opinions. But we persevered.

The official 1Malaysia Email account, proposed for each Malaysian adult, is to allow secure communication between the government and the public. Technically, it will work. Not only will the account provide direct communication between the two parties, it could also eventually evolve into a valid digital identity.

Moreover, if this email scheme is efficient and all-encompassing in the service it provides, citizens will benefit. Provided its intent is to furnish us with impeccable service, without any hint of manipulation.

Adding to the pluses, when we receive bills, notices and statements directly from government agencies, we will be updated immediately on the status of payments due. No more unreliable mail service to blame or incompetent service providers to swear at.

We ask questions and, technically, will receive the right answers. Minimal time loss and hardly any effort exerted. All at our convenience, information at our fingertips.

In fact, if this e-mail project takes off without any fear or favour, it would be the perfect branding exercise for the still-fledgling 1Malaysia concept. Executed sincerely and without discrimination, it could potentially unite Malaysians.

If the powers-that-be promise to listen to what the estimated 16 million over-18 potential voters say in their emails, that would be a superb start. This could be followed by key government actions, explained with great care and sensitivity. No contradictory statements, no lame attempts to hoodwink.

Finally, if feedback is graciously accepted and acted upon, this account could be the catalyst for improving government performance.

We may then be persuaded, with excellent public relations and good intentions, to believe in 1Malaysia’s potential for success. That is, as long as we do not receive inane advertising messages, bucket-folders of festive greetings and vacuous propaganda. That cannot be part of this deal.

If this nation is inclined to accept these email accounts voluntarily, then this will be the perfect space to collect data. No more outdated statistics, half-baked polls and marred surveys. Strategically planned, these accounts will be such a source of information that they will act as a form of census of what constitutes a true representation of the Malaysian people.

They can also be the perfect platform for gauging public opinion on matters that affect the people. With immediate access, provided its agencies are open to unbiased feedback, the government will know exactly what people are thinking, feeling and saying about actions that affect their lives.

However, the group at the writing workshop had a few concerns.

The country is in the midst of transforming itself into a high-income economy. Also, we are well aware of government efforts to clean up the widespread corruption that seems to infect almost every transaction.

Unfortunately, in our rumour-driven society, there is always a story circulating. In this hotbed of serial as-told-by-someone-who-was-told-by-someone sagas, we would like to be able to judge the validity of certain decisions based on facts and figures, and belief in transparency.

So, the taxpayers in the group were concerned about the exact funding of the email exercise, as well as the costs the government will reduce in terms of postal charges and communication campaigns through this initiative.

Don’t just bandy figures about; do a proper presentation as that will help convince the cynics. A comprehensive and clear list of benefits for those who sign up for this free email account will not go amiss, either.

Another grouse emerged from the discussion. Members of Gen Z (aka the Internet generation; those born between the early 1990s and the early noughties) seemed reluctant to engage with the government.

They were not interested, they said, in being informed about tax benefits or sent bills to pay. Anyway, they were mostly on Facebook or Twitter and for them, the general appeal of email is dwindling.

All valid arguments, you would say? Of course, this was a creative activity to stall the practice of predictable writing.

I must thank all the participants who helped with the ideas for this column, this week, and who unanimously posed the question – email.com.why?

People, places and perceptions inspire writer Jacqueline Pereira. In this column, she rummages through cultural differences and revels in discovering similarities.