PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that concerns over the implementation of the national digital identity or Digital ID, such as leakage of personal and banking records and implantation of chips into individuals, are completely unfounded. 

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said when talking about digital transformation, the people must accept the fact that the country should advance in line with current technological developments. 

“What is there to be afraid of personal issues? Bank Negara Malaysia will not release personal banking details. So, that is under control. 

“Then, there are those who say that chips will be implanted into our body and so on, that is from watching too many Hollywood movies,” he told reporters after registering with the Digital ID today, making him the first individual in the country to have a Digital ID. 

The others who registered after him were Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof.  

Among the cabinet members who also registered were Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Higher Education Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali. 

Anwar said before commenting, one should first listen to the explanations given by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Communications and Digital Ministry regarding the Digital ID. 

While stressing that the government would not force anyone to register with the Digital ID for now, Anwar, however, encouraged all civil servants to do so as the Rahmah Cash Aid and all forms of targeted subsidies would be channelled through the Digital ID. 

Digital ID is a digital form of identification and verification of individuals that would benefit the public and private sector in verifying user identities when carrying out online transactions. 

Without replacing the MyKad system, Digital ID would be a secure platform that would facilitate online identity verification to avoid fraud. – Bernama, December 1, 2023.