SPEECH BY MR LEE YOCK SUAN, MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND SECOND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AT THE ASEAN E-GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE SEMINAR AND IAI PRIMER ON CYBERLAWS HELD ON 18 NOVEMBER 2002 AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL SINGAPORE
Mr Roberto Romulo, Chairman of the e-ASEAN Task Force,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am happy to be here at the Opening Ceremony of two ASEAN Executive Seminars, on e-Government and on Cyberlaws. This morning, I would like to highlight "the Role of Government in the Information Age".
2 The "digital revolution" has transformed the way we live and how we view the world. Across the globe, governments are implementing various forms of e-government to reach out to their peoples. The advent of the Internet has allowed a government to offer interactive online services to its citizens at any time and from any place. Harnessing the power of ICT improves government processes, resulting in greater effectiveness and efficiency.
3 ASEAN is no exception. All ten countries are committed to developing and implementing e-government as this is one of the key thrusts of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement signed in November 2000 in Singapore. The e-ASEAN initiative is a call to member states to embrace the development and use of ICT, to sustain economic growth and to remain competitive in the global marketplace. It is a cornerstone of our collective effort to narrow the development gap within ASEAN.
4 E-government is essentially about improving public service delivery through better use of ICT. Substantial cost savings could be achieved by improving government business processes one example that comes to mind is TradeNet which was successfully implemented in Singapore. E-government also acts as a lever to develop the ICT sector and as a catalyst for change. Investing in e-government projects creates demand for IT and, as the experience in Singapore and Malaysia has shown, it can create a whole new industry - a virtuous cycle. Other ASEAN governments may wish to replicate this experience by taking the lead in developing their ICT sectors.
5 The first step is to have a plan for e-government. The challenge is to turn the plan into reality. Let me highlight some lessons we have learnt in Singapore from developing our e-government programme.
Clear Vision and Goals
6 First and foremost, the vision and goals of e-government have to be articulated clearly. All stakeholders and constituents must be rallied to work towards a common purpose. At the outset in 1990, we included over 200 people from the public sector, private sector, industry, academia, research institutes and community groups. They participated in the IT2000 visioning exercise to transform Singapore into a so-called "Intelligent Island". The provision of easily accessible and useful e-government services was one of the major thrusts of this collective vision.
Effective Leadership and Commitment
7 Second, political leadership and commitment is critical to spearhead the development of national ICT masterplans and strategies. This ensures that the right priorities and adequate funding are accorded towards their implementation. In Singapore, a National IT Committee, chaired by a Cabinet Minister and comprising other Ministers and senior officials from relevant ministries, was set up to oversee IT2000. Commitment must come from all levels. Management must ensure projects are implemented according to plan, and appropriate change management strategies are communicated clearly to people on the job who are affected by the change. A dedicated group of people should be given the responsibility to coordinate and monitor various planning and implementation activities, especially those that cut across many government departments.
Effective Change Management
8 As part of the change management process, it is critical to ensure that those affected by the change are adequately prepared and e-ready. This involves training and educating vast segments of the population in ICT literacy, as well as providing convenient, affordable access to e-services. In Singapore over the years, ICT skills training and upgrading programmes have been provided to teachers and students in schools, people in the workforce, and the general public including housewives and retirees. Through awareness programmes and discussion sessions, the public's concerns over issues like network and information security and data privacy have to be allayed. To ensure that everyone has access to e-government services, we set up internet facilities in various public places such as libraries and community centres for those people who cannot afford PCs at home.
Conclusion
9 The road to implementation is not an easy one to take. Each ASEAN country faces its own challenges and obstacles, depending on the readiness and availability of ICT infrastructure, and the e-readiness of their people. But these should not deter national governments from pursuing their e-government initiatives. There are success stories and best practices to learn from, which I am sure will be highlighted at these Seminars over the next few days. ICT newcomers need not despair, as there are advantages to starting now. For instance, you can bypass having to lay expensive wireline telecommunications infrastructure, and leapfrog instead to wireless and satellite technologies.
10 To succeed, ASEAN governments must work hand-in-hand with the private sector to share their experiences in e-government planning and implementation, and to identify areas of collaboration. This will further strengthen economic integration and enhance competitiveness.
11 Let me conclude by thanking the e-ASEAN Task Force and my colleagues in the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, for organising these two ASEAN e-Seminars. I hope the ideas and proposals that emerge from your discussions will prove fruitful and feed into the process of ensuring greater connectivity in your respective countries as well as within ASEAN as a whole.