Being the first country to incorporate both government and private sector applications onto a single multipurpose smart card.
Done.
The government of Malaysia utilized state-of-the-art technology to develop and implement “MyKad” — a multipurpose digital application card for all citizens over the age of 12.
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Malaysia Smart Card (.WMA, 4:00) |
Breakthrough: Delivering citizen services faster
MyKad simplified life for Malaysian citizens by consolidating drivers’ licenses and identification cards for bill payment (ePurse), tolls, parking/public transport, ATM banking and health services into a single smart card. It is also expediting activity at immigration checkpoints.
Secure Business Operation
National identification registry
Innovation Metrics
Malaysia has issued smart cards to more than 18 million citizens over the age of 12. In addition to improving service to citizens, MyKad incorporates PKI digital signatures to ensure security of e-commerce transactions.
Transforming a vision into reality.
With a population of 23 million, the country of Malaysia has proven itself to be a technological innovator, improving government service to citizens and increasing economic activity for the entire nation. The Government Multi-purpose Card (GMPC) project is part of Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative — designed to attract leading-edge technology development to Malaysia.
In the late 1990s, Malaysia’s Prime Minister had a vision to spearhead the nation into the Information Age by making it the first country to implement a single multi-purpose smart card incorporating both government and private sector applications. That vision has become a reality with the MyKad – “My” signifying both Malaysia’s Internet address and personal ownership, and “Kad” being the Malay word for card as well as an acronym for the Malay phrases “Kad Akuan Diri,” meaning Personal Identification Card and “Kad Aplikasi Digital,” meaning Digital Application Card.
Enlightening a nation.
MyKad deployment began in May 1999, when the government awarded the project to the GMPC Consortium, a team of five internationally prominent technology suppliers, including Unisys Corporation as systems integrator and consultant for business process reengineering/change management. Several government agencies in Malaysia also collaborated on the project, with the National Registration Department (NRD) appointed as the lead government agency. Datuk Azizan Ayob, former Director General of the NRD, explains the motive behind MyKad: “In Malaysia, by law, everyone must carry a national identification card once they reach the age of 12. Then there are driver’s licenses, passports and bank cards, so people have too many cards to carry. We wanted one card that could perform multiple government and private sector applications, while ensuring security of the information on the card.”
“We faced two major challenges when we embarked on this project,” continues Datuk Azizan. “The first one was technology, and the second was changing the mindset of the people to accept the new card. To address the technology challenge we evaluated leading edge technologies and chose the best suited for our needs. We used the latest chip and biometric technology to ensure the data on the card are accurate and secure. Now, with a thumbprint image, photograph and surface information, we can verify the cardholder’s identity with a card acceptance device (CAD) rather than the naked eye. This helps prevent forgery and misuse of cards.”
Regarding citizen acceptance, the government automatically issues MyKad to all citizens who reach the age of 12 and to any who have lost their old national identification cards. For the rest, says Datuk Azizan, “we used media outreach to educate people on the benefits of the multipurpose card, conveying the convenience it offers.”
Improving citizen services and fostering economic growth.
Indeed, MyKad is simplifying life for citizens of Malaysia with its multiple applications:
- MyKad replaces the national identification card and driver’s license.
- Availability of passport information enables quick exit and re-entry of Malaysians at immigration checkpoints. (MyKad does not, however, replace passports for overseas travel).
- Confidential health information – such as allergies, medications, medical history, etc. – ensures immediate medical attention during emergencies.
- MyKad can be used to pay for highway tolls, parking and public transportation.
- Citizens can perform ATM transactions with the smart card.
- Citizens can use MyKad as an e-purse for small purchases of everyday items, pre-paying small dollar amounts up to the equivalent of US $500.
- The Public Key Infrastructure in MyKad, with its digital signature feature, enables secure e-commerce transactions.
According to Datuk Azizan, “People seem to be very happy, especially with the toll and ATM features. People are always in a hurry, and MyKad helps them get service faster. Also, people like the security provided by the chip technology. For the ATM feature, there are two keys for security checks – one is a bank key and one is a government key, so the card cannot be cloned.
“The GMPC is also increasing economic activity for the country,” says Datuk Azizan, “expediting the process of verification that is involved when individuals take out loans to finance large projects, thereby reducing the time to complete these projects.”
Having overcome the technological and change management challenges of the GMPC Project, MyKad now successfully represents the first step to an incredible transformation in the lives of Malaysian citizens.
Customer at a glance
National Registration Department, Malaysia
Reports to
Deputy Prime Minister
Mission
Management of national registration programs
Objective
Use citizen ID card for government and private sector applications.
Results
Citizens get faster service. Information is protected. Economic activity increased.
Population served
Serves 23 million citizens; 18 million registered to date
About Unisys in the Public Sector
Unisys is a worldwide systems integrator specializing in information technology services and solutions. We offer an end-to-end portfolio of value-based solutions led by our competency in consulting and systems integration, outsourcing, network services and security, combined with leading enterprise-class server and related technologies.
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