Gobind: A national digital ID for all in the works

Kuala Lumpur: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry is looking to develop a national digital ID to provide a verifiable platform of trust, said Minister Gobind Singh Deo.He said this digital ID, however, was not meant to replace the MyKad nor is it mandatory for everyone.

"Let me give you an example. When one applies for membership of a certain organisation, more often than not the organisation would request for a photocopy/image of your MyKad. That is not an example of trust nor is it 'verifiable'.

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"In comparison, this is what a national digital ID can offer. You could apply to be a member of that organisation by registering your application using the national digital ID.

"This would be a trusted and verifiable platform," he said when launching the E-Commerce Entrepreneurship Summit at the Palace of Golden Horses in Seri Kembangan near here Thursday.

The minister pointed out that another example would be that the government and agencies could deliver targeted subsidies efficiently via an eWallet account that has been registered using the national digital ID.

Gobind Singh said the national digital ID has many merits and would be an integral and crucial platform for the digital government initiative.

"An official identity document is in our nation's DNA. It is a necessity due to national security needs, and later becomes an integral part of the administration and our national identity.

"It also performs a certain function – that of a platform of trust. When one holds his or her MyKad, one has a sense of pride of being Malaysian," he said.

Meanwhile, when approached by reporters, Gobind Singh said the national digital ID can, among others, check fraud and facilitate transactions in e-commerce.

Gobind Singh said that in the current digital era, consumers cannot use the identity card but a digital identification which several developing countries were already using.

He also said that the ministry was in the process of drafting the relevant legislation to implement the digital identification.

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Gobind Singh said the pioneer project will involve several entities, among them the ministry, Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and financial institutions that will make evaluations from the overall and varying aspects.

"I hope we can get something out by mid next year. This is something important, and I will give you constant updates," he said. – Bernama

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