Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced the government will introduce a digital identity (digital ID) for the use of online services and transactions. The implementation is to take place in 2024.
Its purpose is to serve as authentication for individuals using the latest biometric technology such as fingerprint, facial and iris recognition for online conduct.
Hamzah also explained during the National Registration Day yesterday, the digital ID is essential in avoiding identity fraud. It won’t be replacing the MyKad as an identification document.
Instead, it aims to strengthen MyKad’s security.
Present alongside Hamzah during the virtual event were National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh and Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
Hamzah also announced entrusted to take lead in this initiative are the Home Ministry and the NRD. This is because population data and records are under the jurisdiction of the NRD.
Moreover, existing ICT systems in the department will undergo continuous improvement to ensure they are safe and up to date. This is also to ensure the NRD is every ready in aspects of infrastructure in order to handle they user identity verification.
An Upgrade to Citizen Data
“With the availability of this digital ID, individual review and verification of citizens who have a MyKad can be executed with ease and precision. It doesn’t only help to smoothen the process involved—what’s more important is that it is able to (create more) confidence in the government’s service delivery system.”
– Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Additionally, the NRD has since developed a smart system partnership with the police force known as the System Mortality Integration Data Validation (SPDIM).
Hamzah also explained during the virtual event, the SPDIM system simplifies death processes within 690 police stations nationwide. The NRD also has since set up a special task force to update these information.
To this date, a total of 63,620 people above 90 years are still alive, as recorded by the NRD.
Processes now include locating their last registered address with the NRD and contacting their next of kin for further verification.
The NRD will then register their death in accordance with legal provisions when found they have indeed deceased.
Furthermore, Hamzah also said the NRD have since been going to the ground helping those unable to travel to office, with their applications. This included those of the disabled, elderly, bedridden communities as well as those living on the outskirts.
A Celebration of Transformation
In the meantime, this year’s NRD celebration took the theme of Digital Transformation.
Hamzah reportedly said, this was in light with the current state of the world now edging all the closer to digital service transformation. After all, the world now is shifting online welcoming the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
“Transition and improvement from the old system to this new digital system has increased the level of data information security, especially in curbing irresponsible activities such as forgery of identity cards… and the ‘black economy.'”
– Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
He added the shift in the government’s delivery system is now palpable, going from a namual-based system to a more systematic technology.
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