NEC Corporation, a Japanese multinational company, is reported to have submitted a proposal to supply the Malaysian government’s digital identification project for introducing biometric identities for all 32 million citizens.

According to Norihiko Ishiguro, NEC senior executive in an interview with Nikkei Asian Review, he said that the government intends to finalize details of the project by year-end, and plans to introduce a digital ID system that can be used in e-commerce as well as in new financial services such as e-payments.

NEC intends to use its successful experience of implementing digital biometric IDs in India as a blueprint for Malaysia, Ishiguro said.

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak said it was conducting a comprehensive study on the project which could last until next year.

The Cabinet would decide on the implementation of the Digital ID project after the study is completed.

Ishiguro revealed NEC’s interest in the project during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent discussions with Japanese investors in Tokyo.

India launched a national identification system in 2010 that aims to provide all residents with a unique identity and a digital platform to authenticate it anytime, anywhere. The program uses a large-scale biometric system developed by NEC.

Multiple biometrics such as fingerprints, facial images and iris scans are used to distinguish more than 1.3 billion Indian citizens.

However, the Malaysian digital ID system will not be mandatory and will not replace the national IC system.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com