Petaling Jaya : New applications are being mulled for the Government Multipurpose Card (GMPC) or MyKad, as it is now officially known – to enhance its usability. Applications on the drawing board includes ATM (Automated Teller Machine) and security applications, so called transit applications such as Touch ‘n’ Go toll payment system.

National Registration Department (NRD) Smart card Unit project director Wan Mohd Ariffin Wan Ismail said the new applications are in various stages of development and could be introduced in conjunction with MyKad’s national rollout planned for 2003.

“We already have a prototype for the transit applications but the others are still in the early stages,” he told In.Tech last week. Ariffin said the NRD was in discussions with Malaysian Electronic Payment System Sdn. Bhd. (MEPS) on the implementation of the ATM feature, which would let cardholders withdraw money from their bank accounts through ATMs that are part of the MEPS network.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) capabilities might also be introduced in MyKad to let cardholders store digital certificates and perform secure online transactions. “We can introduce more services once the card is PKI – enabled,” Ariffin said.

Possible services include allowing cardholders with digital certificates to update personal information such as a change of address electronically, or making electronic payments for driver’s license renewal.

MyKad currently contains identification, driver’s license, passport and MEPS Cash applications. MEPS Cash allows cardholders load up to RM 500 into their cards and spend it at participating stores.

The cards can now be used at immigration counters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), where cardholders need only insert their cards and provide a thumbprint to go through the gates.

Traffic police have also been given smart card readers that let them access driver’s license details. Arriffin said more advanced readers – such as those that would enable police to connect wirelessly to their databases – will be distributed “soon.”

The NRD has issued 600,000 cards since April and the figure is expected to reach two million by next year. Twelve government Service Centres (GSCs) – where the public can apply for the card – have been set up within Klang Valley, although changing over to the new card is not compulsory.

The NRD also plans to embark on a programme to raise public awareness of MyKad and its applications. The programme would include television and radio advertisements, and nationwide road shows. Ariffin said that the public’s reception to MyKad has been very good, but there was a need to educate them more on the various uses of the smart card.

“The feedback that we have received shows that the public is excited about the smart card, but there are a considerable number that think it is just another new IC (identity card),” he said.