Strong Governance, Data Security, Integrity Essential For Public Service Digitalisation - Comms Ministry Sec-gen

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- Efforts to accelerate digitalisation in public services must go hand in hand with strengthening governance, data security, integrity and accountability to ensure public trust is maintained, said Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah.

He said the growing reliance on data and digital systems also brought greater responsibility to ensure that data was managed properly, securely and with integrity.

Abdul Halim said digital transformation should not be viewed solely from the perspective of technology adoption, but should also involve changes in the way work was carried out, decisions were made and services were delivered to the public.

“The more we rely on data and digital systems, the greater our responsibility to ensure that the data is managed properly, securely and with integrity.

“We want to build systems that are not only efficient, but also trusted. Because in public service, efficiency without trust is not enough. Trust is the currency of public service,” he said.

He said this in his speech at the launch of the Department of Broadcasting’s (RTM) Media Digital Insights & Analytics System (MeDINA) at Kota Media Angkasapuri here today, which was also attended by Broadcasting director-general Datuk Ashwad Ismail.

Abdul Halim said the launch of MeDINA was an important step in RTM’s transformation towards becoming a more efficient, agile, integrated and data-driven public broadcaster.

He said MeDINA was a centralised digital analytics platform that aggregates data from RTM Klik, social media, streaming services and related digital platforms in a single integrated dashboard.

According to him, the platform could help RTM understand changes in the media landscape and audience behaviour patterns across platforms, as well as analyse broadcast content, improve operational efficiency and ensure that the content and services delivered remained relevant to the needs of the public.

“With a good system, data is not merely stored. Data must be translated into information, information must be translated into insights, and insights must be translated into action. This is what will make our organisation more data-driven,” he said.

At the same time, Abdul Halim said a good system alone would not bring about change if the organisation’s personnel did not change along with it, and that digital transformation must also encompass people, culture and ways of thinking.

-- BERNAMA