Information society, governance and economic development

Abstract

Following the economic crisis there has been a proliferation of interest in the consequences of very little empirical governance and misgovernance for development. However, there has been research on Malaysia's current position on governance', public governance in particular. Governance refers to the process whereby elements in society wield power and authority, and influence and enact policies and decisions concerning public life, and economic and social development. Governance is a broader notion than government. Governance involves interaction between these formal institutions and those of civil society. Governance may also refers to the fact that a people manages its affairs according to its own norms of fairness and legitimacy, embodied in laws, procedures, policies, conventions, and organisations designed to carry them out. One could refer to all of these as institutions. The quality of these institutions is an important determinant of both economic and political development.

Misgovernance, on the other hand, reflects corruption. This is not meant to suggest that all issues of governance refer to the problem of corruption. However it is useful and important to understand corruption as attributes of governance failure. In this regard, access to information is crucial. It can render the process of government more open and make those in power more accountable to their people. But access to information is not a magical cure for all social ills. It can be useful tool in improving societies, but it cannot, in and of itself, bring about radical transformation. Seen in this light, this paper focuses on Malaysia's information society, governance and economic development.