PUTRAJAYA, Nov 16 — The three-week National Postal and Courier Industry Laboratory (NPCIL) commences today until Dec 4 to formulate a new action plan to strengthen the industry so that it will continue to be viable and provide quality services for all clients.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the NPCIL, run by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), would examine the framework in terms of industry governance, regulatory approach, operational efficiency, service cooperation and customer experience.
He said the laboratory also sees the participation of representatives from his ministry, MCMC, and other related agencies, as well as key industry players.
“The full report is expected to be completed by the third week of December 2020,” he said in a statement today.
Saifuddin said that he was confident that the approach would provide direction towards strengthening the postal and courier industry for the benefit of the people and as an important component in the development of the digital economy.
“The postal and courier services industry has been the backbone of delivery and communications services for a long time. Due to technological advances and COVID-19 pandemic, online services such as e-commerce, gig economy and financial transaction systems have increased significantly and are now becoming a major part of the way of life of the community,” he said.
In the first half of 2020, during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), the total number of letters and parcels jumped to 160 million, an increase of 10 per cent compared with the same period last year, he said.
The increase prompted licensed companies such as Pos Malaysia Bhd to hire 1,400 part-time employees, known as Pos Riders, to assist the delivery process.
“While many workers had to be laid off due to the economic situation, Pos Malaysia and other companies in the industry provide employment opportunities for the people to generate income,” he said.
Therefore, he said that it was timely for the country’s postal and courier industry to be strengthened to remain competitive and embrace the latest technologies to face future challenges.
“The resilience of this industry needs to be given attention as it is a strategic component in the country’s digital economy development plan. This industry needs a paradigm shift and synergies for business and service sustainability so that all citizens, especially in rural areas, will continue to enjoy the best services,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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