The beta MyEmail portal built by IT firm Tricubes Bhd for the much criticised 1Malaysia Email project is now online and will soon be ready for beta testing by users.

Checks by Malaysiakini at the domain name " http://myemail.my " showed the MyEmail portal to be up and running, though it is not yet available for registration.

"We are pleased to announce the availability of a Citizen Inbox for every Malaysian, myemail. Be one of the first to experience paperless communication with government agencies in a secure and reliable way," says the welcome message on the homepage.

The message also says that registration for the beta programme will start at the end of April, and urges visitors to hurry back as the email system will be opened only to limited subscribers to test soon.

NONE As Tricubes CEO Khairun Zainal Mokhtar ( left ) has announced, the project is set for preview in July, with user testing to commence soon to flush out kinks in the system.

A page on the site entitled 'What's myemail?' describes the service as an email messaging platform to which every citizen is entitled.

An account will allow users to get the latest news or events about new government initiatives, services or policies as well as to communicate directly with government leaders.

In the near future, the page says, services to help account holders interact with the government and enhance access and delivery of the government services will also be provided.

'Works just like regular email'

The account, which the site touts will 'work just like regular email', boasts 25GB of storage for each account and a built-in search tool as well as the ability to create, edit and save Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents.

In contrast, an account on the popular email service Gmail provides gives only 7GB of storage, though Gmail does enable the editing of Google documents.

At the bottom of the myemail page is a Malaysian government logo and a statement that the portal is 'powered by' Tricubes and Windows Live.

Tricubes yesterday revealed that it was working with software giant Microsoft on the project.

However there NONE is no mention of Premier Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia pet project on the site.

The page also carries links to a Facebook page and Twitter account for the project.

There is also a feedback form on which visitors can post messages to those responsible for the project.

The project was announced by Najib at the 5th ETP update session in Putrajaya yesterday, as part of seven new EPPs.

Barely hours after its announcement, the 1Malaysia Email came under heavy criticism from Malaysians who see no need for RM50 million to be 'wasted' on something spearheaded by a firm described as ‘troubled'.

However Tricubes and Najib have jointly defended the project, saying it is a privately-funded venture.