Malaysia Introducing National Biometric Database Registry – Analysis
Government committed to surveillance system, or just another contract out to cronies.
According to the 12th Malaysian Plan document, the government is implementing a national bio-metric registry system across the whole nation. This will be known as the National Digital Identification (NDI) system. Under the section of Digital Governance in the 532 page document, a plan for developing a digital identity system is explained.
The planned digital identification system using new data technologies and software will be used to hold the bio-metric and other personal data of all Malaysian citizens. The National Digital Identification (NDI) will contain names, aliases, personal details, along with facial bio-metrics, and fingerprints. According to the document, this information will be linked up with government departments and ministries across the government including, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri, or the taxation office, law authorities, Social Welfare Department, Election Commission, National Higher Education Fund Corporation, Labour Department, Ministry of Health, Motor Vehicle Licensing, immigration, and the courts.
Coupled with CCTV systems around the country, the NDI can be used in facial recognition systems.
The plan states that this scheme will be rolled out in 2022, after the Personal Data Protection Act is reviewed and amended to “provide greater rights and control over personal data as well as clarity on personal data management using technology”. The government sees this move as necessary to curb data fraud and enhance the protection of personal rights. The NDI is intended to be a platform for personal authentication. It is also intended for use in banking and other online transactions.
The plan argues that this measure is extremely important to enhance government efficiency for service delivery and online transactions. It is argued that the NDI will enhance government transparency.
One of the greatest concerns is security. A very recent report alleges that the personal data of Malaysian citizens aged 23 to 43 held by the National Registration Department (JPN) was put up for sale online. However, if the myIDENTITY platform, which contains the personal information of Malaysian citizens has been breached, security of the proposed NDI system cannot be guaranteed. There have been a number of leaks of personal data over the years, despite the existence of the Personal Data Protection Act.
A similar bio-metric system was implemented by the Thai government in the three southern most provinces in the Deep South, Patani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as a tool against the insurgency. This has linked into surveillance technology with CCTV systems, biometric data and AI software that can match up and utilize biometric data within the CCTV system, now enabling the conduct of technological surveillance on a wide scale throughout the southern border provinces. This led to great resistance and suspicion of Thai government intentions by the Thai Malays within the region.
Sources informed the author that the Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary Group, which was awarded a 5G telecommunications spectrum license is keenly seeking the multi-billion Ringgit contract to develop and operate the national bio-metric register. The Syed Moktar group has interests in the rice monopoly BERNAS, Aliran Ihsas Resources, controlling Johor water, Gas Malaysia, Malakoff electricity generation, MODENAS, HICOM, Honda, Bank Muamalat, Asia Insurance, PUSPAKOM, MMC railway construction, Senai Airport, Tanjung Pelapas Port in Johor, and POS Malaysia.
The controversial 12th Malaysia Plan has been criticized by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for its alleged cost of RM 2 billion paid out to a foreign consulting company to prepare the report. This was fervently denied by senior minister Mustapa Mohamed, who is the minister overseeing the 12th Malaysia Plan, within hours of Anwar’s allegation.
A source within the Economic Planning Unit, the agency within the Prime Minister’s Department which prepared the 12th Malaysian Plan confirmed that an consulting firm played a major role in the preparation of the report, bypassing local consultants. The consulting company specializes in digital technologies, analytics and data, organization development, and image building.
Senior opposition MP Tony Pua, the 12th Malaysian Plan hasn’t analysed why previous Malaysian Plans have failed, while offering nothing new. Criticism from East Malaysia argues that the 12th Malaysian Plan furthers the Malay agenda, rather than addressing Bumiputera marginalization. Finally, the 12th Malaysian Plan rather than streamlining the public service, is full of new initiatives that will extend an already bloated bureaucracy, such as the NDI plan.
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Since the 2018, all Malaysian government undertaking have been nothing but farces. A recent case in point was the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap where Microsoft angled to take over government digital infrastructure. This happened in parallel with the National Vaccination Roadmap. Lots of bureaucrats were shaking their heads at this farce. No surprises that the minister in charge is vigorously pushing for 100% vaccination while the opposition nods in agreement. Perhaps, the biometric database is to ensure is to ensure vaccine compliance. In the meantime, 1,000s of SMEs are being bankrupted.