PETALING JAYA: The government will introduce a digital identity (digital ID) for use in online services and transactions, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

       “The digital ID will be a form of digital identification and authentication for individuals, using the latest biometric technology such as fingerprint, facial and iris recognition when they conduct matters online.

       “This digital authentication of individuals is essential to avoid identity fraud,” he added.

       Hamzah said the digital ID, which is expected to be implemented in 2024, will not replace the MyKad as an identification document.

       Instead, it would strengthen MyKad security, he said during the National Registration Day celebration yesterday.

       Also present at 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 said the Home Ministry and the NRD had been entrusted to lead this initiative as population data and records are under the custody and jurisdiction of the NRD.

       To ensure that the NRD is ready in terms of infrastructure to handle user identity verification, he said the existing ICT systems in the department would continue to be improved so that they are always up to date and safe.

       “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 is more important is that it is able to (create more) confidence in the government’s service delivery system,” he added.

       In addition to the digital ID, the NRD has also completed the development of System Mortality Integration Data Validation (SPDIM), a smart system partnership it has with the police.

       “The SPDIM system simplifies the death verification process at 690 police stations nationwide. This involves deaths at home that have no criminal element,” said Hamzah.

       He added that the system would enable online death verification, thus speeding up the registration and issuance of death certificates.

       “With the SPDIM system, a death certificate can be issued on the same day that a death is reported at the police station,” he said.

       Hamzah also said the NRD had set up a special task force to update the information of those above 90 years old to confirm their status.

       “There are 63,620 people aged 90 and above who are still alive, according to NRD records,” he added.

       The NRD, he said, would locate them at their last address registered with the NRD or contact their next of kin.

       “If we find that they have died based on confirmation from their heirs or certain parties, then the NRD will register their death in accordance with legal provisions,” he added.

       Hamzah also said that the NRD had been going to the ground to help those who could not go to its offices to apply for their identification documents, especially those from the disabled community, the elderly, the bedridden and those who lived on the outskirts.

       Meanwhile, the theme for this year’s NRD celebration was Digital Transformation.

       “The world has moved towards digital service transformation and shifted online to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era,” said Hamzah.

       “We can see a shift in the government’s delivery system from a manual-based system to a more systematic technology.

       “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,” he added.