Malaysia’s Home Ministry announced that the government will introduce a digital identity or digital ID for use in online transactions. It will be a form of digital identification and authentication for individuals.

It will use the latest biometric technology such as fingerprint, facial and iris recognition when a person conducts online transactions.

The digital authentication of individuals is essential to avoid identity fraud and is expected to be implemented in 2024 but will not replace the MyKad as an identification document.

The Home Ministry and the National Registration Department (NRD) have been entrusted to lead the initiative as population data and records are under the custody and jurisdiction of the NRD.

In order to ensure that the NRD is ready in terms of infrastructure to handle user identity verification, the existing ICT systems in the department would continue to be improved so that all information is always up to date and safe.

With the availability of this digital ID, the Home Ministry stated that individual review and verification of citizens who have a MyKad can be executed with ease and precision.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE