The new MyID system enables Malaysians to use one card for all transactions.

WITH a single MyKad number as a reference, Malaysians can now access a multitude of services offered by government agencies at federal and state levels.

The “one number for all transactions” initiative, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Jan 18, goes to show how far the humble identity card has come.

What started off in 1948 as a security measure to control the communist insurgency has evolved into a high-tech identification and privilege card, providing all Malaysians with a single gateway to a host of services and entitlements. Under the new initiative, the MyKad will enable faster delivery of these privileges.

As countries were just beginning to look into improving their citizen identification systems, Malaysia was already ahead of the curve when it introduced the MyKad on Sept 5, 2001.

One of the seven flagship applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), it propelled Malaysia into the forefront of world class innovative technology.

Malaysia became the first country in the world to use an identification card that incorporated both photo identification and fingerprint biometric data on an in-built computer chip embedded in a piece of plastic.

The 64K MyKad has been designed for extensibility and can be used for the following purposes: driving licence, Touch ‘N Go, MEPS cash, ATM (automated teller machine), Frequent Travellers Card, passport information, health information, and public key infrastructure.

Apart from being an identification card, the MyKad is increasingly being used as a verification tool to identify the owner for the following entitlements and privileges: online statement for Employees Provident Fund, Microfinance Monitoring System under MARA, Visitor Data Management System, Passport Renewal, loyalty programme and as a discount card.

The MyKad will increasingly be used to enable its holders access to more entitlements in future.

MyKad holders are also encouraged to check their MyKads periodically. Because of the advanced features of the smart chip on the card, it is very sensitive and is susceptible to damage if handled roughly such as being left in the washing machine. MyKads can be checked at any Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) branch office.

For a list of JPN branch offices, please refer to the JPN website at www.jpn.gov.my. – Article courtesy of the National Registration Department

Technology behind the MyKad The MyKad is a piece of plastic with an embedded microchip and has the dimensions of a standard credit card. The original card contained a 32K EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) chip running on the M-COS (MyKad Chip Operating System). In November 2002, all new MyKads were issued with a chip having an increased capacity of 64K. The card supports a digital signature key which is authenticated by a central authority when the card is created. Authenticity and integrity of the data is protected and inaccessible to anyone, apart from the relevant government agencies and the owner of the MyKad. While the 32K MyKad had limited storage space and application capabilities, the 64K MyKad doubled the amount of storage space, increased the number of applications and has the ability to add new applications or remove old applications. The 64K MyKad is indicated with “64K Chip” at the back.

The MyKad is a piece of plastic with an embedded microchip and has the dimensions of a standard credit card. The original card contained a 32K EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) chip running on the M-COS (MyKad Chip Operating System). In November 2002, all new MyKads were issued with a chip having an increased capacity of 64K.

The card supports a digital signature key which is authenticated by a central authority when the card is created. Authenticity and integrity of the data is protected and inaccessible to anyone, apart from the relevant government agencies and the owner of the MyKad. While the 32K MyKad had limited storage space and application capabilities, the 64K MyKad doubled the amount of storage space, increased the number of applications and has the ability to add new applications or remove old applications. The 64K MyKad is indicated with “64K Chip” at the back.