PETALING JAYA: Malaysians may soon find it easier to deal with government agencies online as the MyGOV Malaysia application is enhanced with an artificial intelligence (AI) agent, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
Gobind said the move was part of efforts to ensure government digital services kept pace with current technology while making it easier for Malaysians to benefit from digitalisation.
“We have to look at current technology and make sure that the application or technology we use is in line with the technology available today,” he said when opening Jelajah Malaysia Digital (JMD) at Dewan Komuniti Damansara Damai on Saturday (Aug 8).
Gobind said the AI agent was among the latest developments being incorporated into MyGOV, reflecting the need for government services to evolve alongside technological advances.
He said MyGOV was also aimed at addressing concerns over the growing number of applications needed to access different government services.
The Government wanted to bring various services offered by the Federal, state and local governments together on a single platform, while improving the services provided, he said.
“This is to address the issue where many people say there are too many apps and so on for every service provided by the Government,” he said.
Gobind urged Malaysians to explore MyGOV and make use of the digital services available through the platform.
He said digitalisation was not simply about introducing new technology, but ensuring people understood how to use it and benefited from it.
“Many people ask what the benefits are when we talk about digital,” he said, adding that efforts to build digital skills and understanding were necessary to help people make better use of technology.
Gobind said technology had transformed everyday activities, including how students conducted research.
Students could now use smartphones and the Internet to obtain information for assignments instead of having to physically visit libraries as in the past, he said.
He also highlighted opportunities for businesses, saying digital platforms allowed entrepreneurs to promote their products, reach customers online, receive digital payments and arrange deliveries without requiring customers to visit physical premises.
Gobind said technology adoption should ultimately be measured by the tangible benefits it brought to businesses and industries, rather than simply by the availability of new digital tools.
He said real-world examples were important in showing businesses how technology could improve their operations, productivity and ability to compete in wider markets.
However, Gobind stressed that technology brought risks alongside its benefits.
He warned Malaysians against becoming victims of scams and urged them to verify information obtained online before acting on it.
“We must make sure the information we receive is accurate and genuine. We should never be deceived by false information designed to make us victims of scams,” he said.
He said digital literacy must therefore include an understanding of the risks associated with technology and how to deal with them.
Gobind said the Government wanted digital literacy efforts to reach communities throughout the country, including at district level.
He said JMD was part of this effort, bringing people together to learn about technology, understand the convenience it offered and discuss how it could be used to improve their lives.
