By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Nov 22 — Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has said that service counters are made available at state government agencies and departments to ensure accessibility for all residents as the state moves towards becoming a smart state by 2025.
Addressing the state assembly, Amirudin said that while digital transformation is a key objective, service counters are still necessary to ensure everyone has easy access to government services.
“While we can shift government services online, I do believe that (physical) service counters are still needed in the upcoming years to ensure a seamless transition (to a smart state),” he said in response to a question by Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran on the state’s progress towards becoming a smart state by 2025 and if service counters would be entirely eliminated.
Amirudin highlighted the importance of in-person services, emphasising that public servants need to accommodate people from diverse backgrounds with different degrees of familiarity with digital platforms.
Citing the Covid-19 pandemic as an example, he said the state government learned to adapt digitally, such as providing for document submissions online in place of long queues at government offices.
He said the Selangor State Land and Mines Offices is one of the state agencies that has effectively incorporated digital services by allowing online transactions, including the filing of documents using the Smartbox website.
With nearly 95 per cent of services offered by local authorities, state departments and agencies now accessible online, Amirudin expressed his confidence in the state’s progress towards achieving its 2025 Smart State goal.
