The Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented since March 18 following the outbreak of COVID-19 has indirectly transformed the daily lives of the people and bolstered the popularity of the gig economy which has changed the economic landscape drastically.
Dr Zaharuddin Abdul Rahman, adjunct professor of the business faculty at the University of Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Universiti Selangor (Unisel), said the MCO and COVID-19 have in fact spurred a lot of job opportunities and healthy competition in the gig economy.
In line with this, he said industry players from various sectors such as manufacturing, education, finance, as well as retail and logistics have to be fast in exploring the gig economy to tackle the present economic crisis and as a preparation for post-COVID-19 period that would certainly be more difficult.
In terms of the retail and logistics sectors, this economic segment has benefited various industry players particularly those that have long ventured into the digital services platform such as virtual supermarkets like Amazon, Shopee and Lazada, as well as Grab, Foodpanda and Lalamove services.
"For now, industry players are working hard to develop digital platforms to fulfil the spike in demand from consumers. There are dozens of food and merchandise delivery platforms trying to enter the market as the existing companies are not able to cater for all the demand effectively.
"In terms of economic perspectives, this is a healthy competition and development. However, new industry players are left far behind among the more matured and established companies," he told Bernama.
In addition, he said, even though gig economy has become more readily accepted, exposure, education, as well as training on the sector should not be ignored as there are many that are still not ready to use the digital platform fully especially in the finance sector.
"Although the sector was among the earliest to introduce e-wallet, cashless transactions, robotics investment, online banking business including mobile applications, there are many who are still comfortable with doing business the conventional way due to various factors such as security and reliability," he said.
With the rapid development in technology and growth of the gig economy, it is not impossible in the future for industry players in the manufacturing sector to consider the usage of robotics automation to replace human resources in reducing the risks that could affect the sector, he added.
Zaharuddin said the COVID-19 pandemic has also spurred the active adoption of digital platform in the education sector to ensure students do not miss their subject syllabus.
Now, the industry has seen the emergence of new digital platform including private tutoring web and Android-based application known as MyClaaz.com developed by a Bumiputera company.
Generally, he concluded that the gig economy segment is poised to overtake the traditional sector and attract investors due to its potential to continue to expand in sync with technological advancement.
Nevertheless, it will not be smooth sailing for Malaysia to enhance the gig economy as there are several obstacles, namely the Internet speed which is not yet fully developed, infrastructure which is only limited to several sectors such as fintech or financial technology, as well as potential attacks from hackers and identity thefts.
Additionally, he said the majority of people in the rural areas are still not ready to adopt gig economy applications in their daily lives.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Apr 23 2020
Zaharuddin says the COVID-19 pandemic has also spurred the active adoption of digital platform in the education sector to ensure students do not miss their subject syllabus. - File photo
EPL: Dua bintang remaja ditahan kerana disyaki merogol
Dua pemain bola sepak Liga Perdana Inggeris telah ditangkap pada hujung minggu kerana disyaki merogol dan melakukan serangan.
Paul Yong fail rayuan kes rogol amah di Mahkamah Persekutuan
Paul Yong memfailkan rayuan di Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 5 Mac lalu, berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang mengekalkan sabitan bersalah merogol pembantu rumah warga Indonesia.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Laporan interim siap dalam masa dua minggu - Fahmi
Menteri Pertahanan akan membuat pengumuman berhubung bantuan yang akan diberikan pada Rabu.
Gadang rayu EPU ketepikan keperluan ekuiti Bumiputera bagi pengambilan tanah Kwasa Damansara
Gadang Holdings Bhd berkata ia akan merayu kepada Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) untuk mengenepikan keperluan ekuiti Bumiputera bagi memudahkan pemilikan tanah seluas 21.08 ekar di Kwasa Damansara.
Doa dan kenangan buat pejuang
Titipan doa Wartawan Ridauddin Daud buat pejuang negara yang meninggal dunia dalam nahas dua helikopter di Pangkalan TLDM. Semoga roh mereka dicucuri rahmat.
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Proses bedah siasat selesai, penghormatan terakhir mengikut tradisi tentera laut
Ridauddin Daud membawakan perkembangan terkini penghomatan terakhir kepada 10 mangsa insiden helikopter TLDM yang terhempas di Lumut.
[TERKINI] Anak menteri besar antara enam direman bersabit kes tuntutan palsu
Anak seorang menteri besar, Pegawai kanan Pejabat MB antara enam yang direman bagi bantu siasatan pemalsuan dokumen dan tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
Agong berkenan meriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidilfitri Kementerian Perpaduan
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim hari ini berkenan memeriahkan Majlis Sulaman Kasih Aidifitri Kementerian Perpaduan Negara.
[KOLUMNIS] Kawalan kendiri dapat perkukuh penguatkuasaan undang-undang AI
Tanpa kawalan kendiri, undang-undang mungkin menjadi tidak berkesan termasuklah dalam persoalan impak AI terhadap masyarakat.
WTCKL diiktiraf International Business Review ASEAN Awards
Irmohizam menzahirkan ucapan jutaan terima kasih kepada The International Business Review atas pengiktirafan berkenaan.
COVID-19: Pelanggan tembak tiga pekerja restoran makanan segera selepas dilarang makan dalam restoran
Suspek diberitahu oleh pekerja restoran itu bahawa ruang makan ditutup dan hanya 'drive-thru' sahaja dibuka.
Bertahun bina empayar, Asyraf Khalid kongsi di sebalik jatuh bangun dunia niaga
Menurut pengusaha jamu Mutyara Beauty itu, dia sentiasa dilontarkan dengan tanggapan negatif sesetengah pihak kononnya hanya bernasib baik kerana pengaruh bapanya.
COVID-19: RM4.5 billion fund to help small, medium enterprises and micro entrepreneurs
Prime Minister said the allocation would be channelled through five key initiatives.
Maxis Business SPARK Summit tampil pemikiran bersama dalam memacu transformasi digital di Malaysia
Lebih dari 500 pemimpin perniagaan tempatan dan antarabangsa dari sektor Korporat, Kerajaan dan PKS tempatan menyertai Maxis Business SPARK Summit 2019 pertama.
Kaji selidik Monash: Pemimpin korporat Cina puas hati dengan PH
Dalam kaji selidik yang melibatkan 390 responden itu, 50 peratus pemimpin korporat Cina berpuas hati, diikuti pemimpin Melayu (39 peratus), dan pemimpin India (38 peratus).
Syarikat tembakau terbesar dunia seru perokok berhenti merokok
Kaji selidik terbaharu oleh Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) adalah sebahagian daripada kempen 'Unsmoke' yang menyeru agar semua berhenti merokok.
Kerjasama SME Bank, TM dan Commerce.Asia bantu usahawan dalam transformasi digital
SME Bank bersama Telekom Malaysia Berhad dan Commerce.Asia menandatangani dua Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) pada Selasa.
Pengasas produk The Ordinary ditemui mati
Sehari sebelum kematiannya, Brandon Truaxe telah memuat naik beberapa video berkelakuan pelik ke Instagram.
Here are the three considerations we had when we did the Budget - Tony Pua
Damansara MP Tony Pua explained the three major considerations on what went into the development and execution of Budget 2019.