Dagang Net to Spend RM20m on System Upgrade

Published by The Malay Mail (Mail Money)

THE electronic clearing system for the Royal Customs and Excise Department will be upgraded over the next three years, at a cost of RM20 million, said Dagang Net Technologies Sdn Bhd's senior gen­eral manager Zaharin Ali.

"Our system will allow ports to benefit from faster turnaround time, lower error rate, reduced documental processing time and resources and a single internation­al standard document format," said Zaharin.

Dagang Net, which plans to tap inter­nally-sourced funds to help finance the plan, is currently in the process of draw­ing up a three-year technology blue-print for the project.

A nationwide rollout of the system could help nudge Dagang Net's revenue base by as much as 20 per cent. For the year ended Dec 31 2003, Dagang Net post­ed a revenue of RM38 million.

Dagang Net, having spent as much as RM86 million over the last 14 years to automate Customs procedures, runs an exclusive electronic linkage to the Customs Department on matters involving import and export declara­tion and clearance.

It is firmly understood the RM20 million investment will be ploughed into specific areas to help boost automation of the trade and logistics value-chain.

"The investment will be for acquir­ing new software, hardware and for the setting up of a disaster recovery cen­tre. There will also be a sizeable allo­ cation for training," Zaharin told Mail Money in an interview.

As of end 2003, Dagang Net has enabled seven seaports and three air­ ports to submit electronic customs declara­tions.

Together with the Customs Department, it has also launched a nationwide rollout plan aimed at providing the service to smaller ports and airports including those in Sabah and Sarawak.