Jun 11, 2011

Curiosity About 1Pengguna.com


Web and social media are part of my interests. Besides reviewing about commercial web project, I think I need to know more about the government web project. Hence, I take this opportunity to review Malaysia government's web project, 1Pengguna.com or 1Pengguna.net.
www.1pengguna.com

When I read the news about RM1.4million web portal for consumers, I think it is a good move to help the rakyat and consumers maximizing the values from their spending. However, as a consumer, the 1Pengguna.com really disappointed me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to criticize this project.

Issues & Questions:
1. Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry already owned Smart Consumer Portal (http://www.smartconsumer.my/) since 2009, it is a consumer portal which serves as almost the same role with 1Pengguna.com. So, why they still spent RM1,400,000 to develop a new one instead of improving the Smart Consumer Portal?

2. The minister claimed that they have 3.5 million hits last 2 days (source from newspaper) and caused the website “teething problem”. However, the registered users in 1Pengguna.com are only 2903 (1.20pm, 11/6/2011). Besides that, through their social media links inside 1Pengguna.com, they have only 88 channel views on YouTube, 23 followers on Twitter, 142 Facebook friends (Not Facebook Page). Trying to be optimistic, total up the number, it is even less than 0.001% from 3,500,000 hits. So, is it logic to have 3.5 million hits?

3. The latest news zone in 1Pengguna.com, they are not fully consumer–related news. Those are only link to bernama.com’s news. The website footer has poor alignment too and also poor integration with social media like Facebook. We can see it is not professional enough and should it cost RM1.4million?

Curiosity About The Contractor Company – Sand Consulting Sdn Bhd
According to TheStarOnline (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F6%2F11%2Fnation%2F8883275&sec=nation), the contractor is Sands Consulting Sdn Bhd (http://www.my-sands.com). I visited their official website, they are just using open source Joomla (I used that template before) to build their website instead of developing it with own web expertise. After reading their history, I realized that it is a 9 year old company in Malaysia.
www.sands.com

Sand Consulting’s History
Sands Consulting is a 100% Bumiputra status company incorporated in March 21, 2002 under The Companies Act 1965 of Malaysia with the registration number of 574596-M. Since then the Company has channeled substantial resources towards developing its main activity, which to provide solutions and products from plain network cabling to complex multi-systems integration.

Through the “Reach To Us” zone on the website right bottom, I click on their Twitter(http://twitter.com/#!/sands) and YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/sands), trying to follow them on Twitter. 3 followers on its Twitter is not the issue, but their official website on Twitter account. It is http://www.sands.com/.
http://twitter.com/#!/sands

According to their About Us: “Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is the leading global developer of destination properties (integrated resorts) that feature premium accommodations, world-class gaming and entertainment, convention and exhibition facilities, celebrity chef restaurants, and many other amenities.” 
www.sands.com

So, are they tech company or properties developer? Are they Malaysia company or US company registered in Malaysia?

Regarding to their YouTube channel, it is better for you to see yourself at http://www.youtube.com/user/sands.

There are a lot of criticisms to 1Penggnua.com. It is a RM1,400,000 project, 100 x RM14,000. This amount can fund many quality youth projects or for aspiring entrepreneurs to implement start up their small business, helping many people in Malaysia. Hence, it is logic to see many Malaysian feel angry, feel frustrated, feel disappointed with 1Pengguna.com.
The "issues and questions" section are just my opinion, doesn't mean to criticize anyone. 

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great information, we are so frustrated with our tax being wasted just like that, not even worth 1cents.

    by the way, I have a feeling that Sands consulting has no relationship with Sands Las Vegas (USA).

    I wonder how Sands Consulting could have such convincing to have this 1.4 Million tender, which ends up a low quality of work.

    Catalyst to BN RIP

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  2. One of the biggest problem that plagues many govt' system is that they have LACK of continual support and implementation for long term.

    One of the biggest foul-ups is the (in)famous JPJ SMS-based reporting system (before it was revamp but don't how the current one will last).

    And yes, the question the cost of the system, RM1.4m... as I have said before, how WILL they use it?

    p.s. I've tried the 1pengguna site AND the smartConsumer, and yes, BOTH are doing the exact same functions except, I received a very "friendly" message at the smartConsumer priceWatch section that goes like this:
    HARAP MAAF.
    KERJA-KERJA PENYELENGGARAAN SISTEM
    SEDANG DIJALANKAN.
    SEBARANG KESULITAN AMATLAH DIKESALI.

    I don't even...

    Seriously, the govt departments should implement a 1govt 1framework concept...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for your feedback!
    Yea, I dont think Sands Consulting and Sands Las Vegas has relationship! Just wondering how the company put the twitter link to the Sand Las Vegas Twitter! And, I just visited it! They had removed the social media links module! We cant get to there anymore!

    I agree with you! The long term implementation for the project is important!

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  4. I went to check their website - but the reach to us links are not there anymore..

    ReplyDelete