Improve ICT skills, civil servants told

All civil servants are urged to strive to improve their skills in the use of information communication technology (ICT) so as to maximise the use of technology in serving the public.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun said the use of ICT skills was now vital because the government was currently implementing the technology system and latest modern application in the public service.

"Some civil servants are reluctant to use information technology application on the grounds they are old or about to retire but such excuses cannot be accepted because the use of ICT has no age limit," he told Malaysian journalists after attending the 1gov*govnet.global project briefing session at the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia here today.

He said knowledge on ICT usage was essential especially in facing the fourth information technology revolution, which is expected to occur soon and would lead to all business to use information technology with the help of a robotic system.

Weaknesses in ICT knowledge in the course of daily work would incur losses in terms of costs and time because all service providers were now striving towards cost saving, he said.

He said it would be a waste for the government if the civil servants did not know how to use all the advanced technological hardware aimed at providing services quickly and reduce costs.

Entulu said the government was now using the internet to create a system of network among government agencies within and outside the country to facilitate easier and faster service to the public by civil servants.

-BERNAMA