KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the National Address System (NAS) will be expanded nationwide, with the pilot project scheduled to begin early next year in nine selected areas.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said it will be implemented in stages, starting with areas with the highest rate of address inconsistencies before being expanded nationwide.
"With the implementation of this NAS, all premises nationwide, including in villages, rural and remote areas, will have standardised, complete and recognised addresses.
"This approach is expected to not only streamline service delivery systems, but also contribute to community safety, administrative efficiency and support the development of a comprehensive digital ecosystem,” she said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday (Dec 2).
She said this when replying to a question from Senator Abdul Nasir Idris regarding the government’s measures and action plans to expand the implementation of the Digital Village Programme comprehensively nationwide.
She said the Digital Village initiative aligns with the implementation of NAS, which is being developed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with NAS set to become the valid, standardised and recognised address source of the Federal Government.
It is also the main reference source in the management of over 12 million addresses nationwide.
"This system will support various sectors, including postal services, economy, security and emergency, urban planning, utilities, local government as well as other government agencies,” she said.
She also said that the implementation of the Digital Village Programe in Melaka, which was achieved with the cooperation of multiple agencies, including the MCMC, managed to overcome issues related to unclear, incomplete and unstructured addresses in the 618 traditional villages that were identified.
"Through this Digital Village initiative in Melaka, every premises was identified, mapped and digitally recorded using the Geographical Information System (GIS), and then given a standard address and a unique QR code.
"This enables the location to be verified more accurately by government agencies, service providers and industry players,” she said.
Teo said that the initiative has also benefitted villagers in terms of management, delivery and other services that rely on accurate home addresses.
In addition, this initiative also helps the government obtain more accurate statistical data on the actual number of houses in Melaka and also the boundaries of villages located in the state. - Bernama
