NATIONAL identity cards have long been advocated as a means to enhance national security and guard against illegal immigrants. They are in use in many European countries; in places such as Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Brunei, identity cards are compulsory.

In Malaysia, the national identity card (IC) system has been operational since 1949 after World War II. Now, the government has proposed a multi-purpose smart card called MyKad. The first two letter stands for Malaysia (signifying the country’s domain in Internet terminology as well as personal ownership) and Kad Akaun Diri (my account card).

The pilot scheme was launched in November last year but the idea was first mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1996 when the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project was launched. His vision was to have a single card containing all the pertinent information of a citizen which would eliminate the need for different cards for different purposes. Hence, the government smart card became one of the seven flagship applications of the MSC project.

Smart cards are plastic cards that look like credit cards.

However, unlike regular credit cards or magnetic stripe cards, smart cards contain a computer chip. Most smart cards in use today have the capacity to store 8KB or 16KB worth of information. MyKad utilises a 32KB microchip and the information can be read by inserting the card in a smart card reader.

MyKad is the world’s first government-backed smart card initiative for the public that integrates multiple applications and stores several sets of personal data (including personal identification, driver’s licence, immigration, medical information) and will also function as an e-purse (electronic purse) in the future on a single technology platform. The MEPS (Malaysian Electronic Payment System) Cash application allows cardholders to load up to RM500 into their cards and spend it at participating stores.

There are 12 government service centres in the Klang Valley where the public can apply for the card. Changing over to the new card is not compulsory but those who lose their old IC will automatically get MyKad.

Twelve-year-olds applying for an IC for the first time will also receive MyKad. At present, it costs RM20 to apply for the smart card.

The National Registration Department (NRD) received about RM267mil to implement the smart card project and reading devices are in the process of being delivered to government agencies.

Since April, 600,000 cards have been issued and the figure is expected to reach two million by next year. From the beginning of next year, MyKad will be issued in Sabah and Sarawak and the national rollout is targeted for 2003.

Personal data
NRD Smartcard Unit project director Wan Md Ariffin Wan Ismail says the NRD is in discussion with other government agencies and is looking into the possibility of including other information in the smart card such as health records, pensioner’s number, Socso number and Touch ’n Go value.

“The smart card is already ‘enabled’ for health information which will be write-protected but it is not operational just yet,” he explains.

Data such as a person’s blood type, allergies or long-term illnesses can be stored. It will allow doctors to access medical records of patients and provide quick diagnoses. Only those who have authorisation to view certain files can have access to information on your smart card. The reader must enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) into the system before accessing the data on the card and only a person with “write” privileges can make changes.

For example, if your card contains medical information, only a doctor can review the data in your medical file. Each file on a smart card is secured separately and someone who has access to another file will not be able to access your medical file.

Traffic police have also been given smart card readers that will let them access driver’s licence details.

Other available services include allowing cardholders to update personal information such as a change of address electronically and making electronic payments for driver’s licence renewals.

Wan Md Ariffin says that in future, having a separate driver’s licence may not be necessary anymore and it may eventually be phased out. But the international passport will not be replaced and having the immigration number on MyKad only serves as additional information which might prove useful to certain government agencies.

Intel-powered
According to Kok Hon Loong, Business Solutions Manager of Intel Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd, the technology that runs MyKad is similar to the technology that runs in a bank. A bank needs to integrate several different sets of financial data from different devices and different locations (like credit card, ATM or automated teller machine transactions, current and savings accounts, Internet and phone banking, fixed deposits and loans), consolidate all this information into a single user account and manage this account over a period of time.

More importantly, the bank has to operate in an environment that is secure and reliable, and operate on a platform that is built for the future.

“This is similar to MyKad because the technology platform that powers MyKad has to integrate all this data onto one single platform. It is a mission critical application that must operate on a platform that is up and running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it must be reliable, robust and secure,” he says.

This mission critical platform that supports the technology infrastructure for MyKad is powered by Intel Architecture and is running on the Intel Xeon processor family.

Privacy and security
Not everyone feels that optimistic about MyKad though.

“On the upside, it is indeed a giant step in technology and would make things easier. But as a consumer, I am worried about privacy intrusion and more importantly, the security of the card. Will the government give guarantees if anything happens, and what would be the recourse?” questions Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) president Datuk Hamdan Adnan.

“There doesn’t seem to be any other country doing this at present which means we’re the first. It would appear hard to justify implementing a smart card system in a developing country like ours. It makes more sense to wait and learn from countries that are technologically more advanced and learn from their mistakes.”

As it involves important data concerning Malaysian citizens, security is indeed a very important consideration. Biometric verification built into the card will make it impossible for another person to use your card, assures Wan Md Ariffin.

Various safety devices that have been included in the card such as micro-electric designs, a special hologram, a ghost image of the owner card, an electrical thumbprint (called minutea) and guarded text. In the case of the guarded text, if a person should attempt to scan or photocopy the identity card, the word salinan (copy) will appear. Above all that, the main safety feature of the smart card is the encrypted microchip.

“Smart cards are extremely difficult to duplicate or counterfeit. We also have the certification by the Belgium-based company which came up with the card that it is secure enough. The only setback is that just like a phone card, if you lose MyKad, you also lose the e-purse cash value.

“One of the main worries that the public has is security. But frankly, having additional information in your identity card is no big deal and doesn’t compromise your privacy in any way. The other fear is that Big Brother (the government) will constantly be keeping tabs on you. But consider this: military people have always carried a special ID and in no way has it impeded their freedom,” adds Wan Md Ariffin.

Loss or damage
Under normal circumstances, this smart card should last more than five years. Sometimes, people forget and leave their wallets, money or card in their pockets. When the card was tested for durability, it was put in a washing machine, a very likely place where it could end up, to see how it would measure up and it wasn’t damaged.

“Of course, we don’t expect every single card that has been issued to be perfect and I would appreciate feedback from the public if there are any problems concerning MyKad,” Wan Md Ariffin says.

If someone loses his card, he can reapply for another at the NRD and pay the necessary fine. He should receive his new MyKad within one to two weeks.

“We are working towards a faster system but you must understand that it can be quite difficult transferring so many million thumbprints electronically as sometimes they cannot be read clearly.

“The whole idea behind this smart card system is that we start off with this benchmark technology. Hopefully, Malaysia will become a main player in the market and be able to sell the product to other countries.”

Considering how conservative Malaysians are, MyKad should effect a revolutionary change in the lives of the average citizen.

“Every new technology takes some time to be accepted by consumers. Initially, people were sceptical about the security behind Internet banking, but today, because it has been proven that behind the scenes, the ‘back-end’ servers that support these services and transactions are conducted in a highly secure and reliable platform, Internet banking has become widely accepted and used by us all,” Kok explains.

He says MyKad represents the first step for Malaysians to achieve an incredible transformation in their lives – in the way they work, communicate and do business.

In the future, whether using a computer terminal, ATM machine, kiosk, telephone or other data communications devices, MyKad will become the common key to the information highway and other new business methods and processes that will be developed, including that of the other flagship applications.

“The potential for MyKad is tremendous and we believe that MyKad will be able to make our lives more effective and productive,” adds Kok.

Many Malaysians are unused to the concept and may not feel comfortable with carrying a single information card. Bearing this in mind, Wan Md Ariffin says that MyKad is not going to be obligatory which is why NRD intends to sell and promote the card to the public to raise awareness of its applications and usefulness.

The NRD will embark on a programme that would include television and radio advertisements, and nationwide road shows.

Future cards
Another smart card that will be introduced is the payment multi-purpose cards (PMPC).

MEPS will start off with some 50,000 chip-based cards which should be in active usage by next month. The long-term plan is for all ATM cards to be replaced with chip-based cards by January 2003.

The PMPC is a smart card with three financial applications – ATM, Debit ePos and MEPS Cash.

It is part of the government’s plan to implement a national electronic payment transfer environment.

Consumers would also be able to use the MEPS Cash application within their PMPC to make payments for electronic shopping within the comfort of their homes.

n Those who are interested in applying for MyKad can direct enquiries to the National Registration Department ( % 03-7968 3200).