Malaysia approves National Digital ID initiative, calls for tender for consultants

The Cabinet of Malaysia has approved the National Digital Identity (National Digital ID) initiative, an effort by the government to enable Malaysians to be confident in embracing the rise of digital economy activities. According to the press statement, the National Digital ID initiative will enable users to transact in “a safe and seamless manner”, and comes as Malaysia follows the footsteps of other countries that have also spearheaded the development of a National Digital ID platform.The initiative will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM), while a detailed study on the implementation model will be carried out by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). In this regard, MCMC launched a tender for the provisioning of consultancy services on the National Digital ID for Malaysia. The document can be purchased online until 18 September 2019 for RM300 and the closing date for the tender is 19 September 2019, 12 pm.The implementation of the National Digital ID is expected to bring benefits to individuals and businesses, offering convenience to citizens as they no longer have to remember different usernames and passwords for various services. Neither do they have to carry multiple tokens to transact digitally. KKMM added that with omni channel access, transactions can be made securely on any device anytime, anywhere, even abroad.The National Digital ID will also enable innovative and value-added digital services that facilitate end-to-end business processes with digital signing.“This will promote process improvements and create efficiency as the platform is expected to adopt interoperability standards,” KKMM said. It added that the platform is also expected to offer stronger security and trust for high value transactions through greater identity assurance leveraging on “robust technologies.According to KKMM, a comprehensive study will be conducted from September 2019 for a period of nine months as a first step, in a bid to identify the holistic National Digital ID framework. The study will also propose recommendations to the government on appropriate implementation models that meet the needs of the people, businesses and Malaysia. It will also take into account the country’s unique context including the existing MyKad and private infrastructure, current factors, and identifying new policies.KKMM added that the study will involve the government, private and academic collaboration. “It is hoped that coordinated research and efforts among the key stakeholders from all sectors, industries and the public will offer a better mechanism for the implementation of the National Digital ID in Malaysia,” the press statement added.The ministry clarified that the National Digital ID “is not a substitute” to the existing National Registration Identity Card, neither is it compulsory for everyone. Instead, it is an advanced method of authenticating a user’s identity online.“Whether it is a user setting up an account for the first time, logging in to obtain government service or do business or making a digital payment, National Digital ID enables the digital service providers to make highly accurate trust decisions in real time,” the ministry said.(Photo courtesy: 123RF)