PUTRAJAYA: The government yesterday launched a uniform high-security identification card for all government staff in a move to check impersonation and forging of the identification documents of government employees.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, in launching the card here, said that besides containing the personal details and record of the employee, the card used forensic ID technology to prevent theft and forging of the identity by irresponsible people.
He said the card, developed jointly by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and S5 Systems Berhad, contained 35 security features and used the NexCode, Contactless Chip and Biometric technologies to detect the identity of an individual.
The card had the potential to be used in business and banking transactions in the future, and also in securing privileges accorded to public employees such as discounts for hotel accommodation, he said.
Entulu said the card was now used by the 650 staff of the PSC, and that it would be extended to the staff of ministries and other agencies in stages depending on their readiness to introduce it.
He said it cost RM15 to produce one of these cards, and it could be ready in 30 minutes.
Entulu said the ID cards used by government employees now differed from ministry to ministry and agency to agency.
“At the moment, there is no proper control over the issuing of identity cards and documents for public employees, and the cards can be easily printed. There is no special agency to monitor the issuing of the cards.” — Bernama