PETALING JAYA, Tues, - Malaysia will share its expertise on electronic passports and smart identity cards (IC), incorporated in Mykad, with Middle East countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today. 

“Some of the Middle East countries are interested in introducing these cards following our success. We are ready to share our knowledge and expertise.”

It is learnt that representatives from Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Jordan visited Malaysia recently to learn about the electronic passport and Mykad.

“We are proud of our achievements and are willing to share it with others,” he said after attending the National Registration Department’s Hari Raya Open House here today.

He said a unit has been set up in the NRD headed by NRD headed by Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Aseh Che Mat to promote the smart cards to any country keen to know more about them.

It is learnt that a team from Saudi Arabia was scheduled to meet members of the unit at the NRD office tomorrow to get details on the smart cards.

Meanwhile, Aseh, who was at the same function, said the unit would be doing presentation on how the smart cards were implemented and utilised.

MyKad, which was officially launched on Sept 5, 2001, holds personal information obtained from the IC, passport and driving licensed but will soon be able to hold health records of the card owner.

The smart card also has security features using thumb prints and holograms to prevent forgery.

So far, about one million Mykads have been issued in the Klang Valley. From April 4, the public can apply for Mykad at any of the NRD offiices nationwide.

Meanwhile, the electronic passport which is a machine readable passport system-compatible containing embedded tamper-proof electronic substrate, can only be authenticated by the Malaysian Immigration Department.

Aseh also clarified newspaper reports on the issue of foreign maids, saying the ruling remains the same – Malaysians could take maids either from registered maid agencies or bring them in on their own.

However, he added, those who brought in maids on their own have to furnish the immigration department with information as to how they obtained the maids.

“They have to furnish us with information as to whether they got the maids through friends or relatives in Indonesia or other countries.”

Aseh said this was because of information received that many Malaysians were taking maids through illegal maid agencies.

“We more details of where they obtained the maids to avoid untoward incidences, “ he said.

It was reported in a local Malay newspaper yesterday that effective next month, those who take foreign maids can only do so from maid agencies registered with the immigration department.