Malaysia Rolling Out Controversial Digital ID

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

KUALA LUMPUR (Worthy News) – Malaysia has become the latest nation to start rolling out a digital identity document system called MyDigital ID, despite security concerns and fears of more government control over people’s lives.

Developers say MyDigital ID is an online system that helps to “verify and authenticate” identification in the digital age.

Officials expect 2024 to see MyDigital ID adopted by the Malaysian cabinet, followed by civil servants, recipients of government programs, and the general public by July.

Authorities believe about 30 million people will have MyDigital ID within six months. So far, at least 1.6 million civil servants reportedly signed up.

“With the volume, we hope it can entice private sectors like banks to adopt MyDigital ID,” said Saat Shukri Embong, head of Mimos, the tech firm in charge of the project.

However, there are concerns the system could be a potential security risk “given the number of data breaches involving government apps and registries in Malaysia,” reported the country’s Malay Mail newspaper.

It referred to troubles with applications or apps on devices such as mobile phones, tablets, computers, and websites.

HOME MINISTER

Malaysian Home Minister’s Office’s special duties officer Azman Hussin claimed the technology is very secure, and hackers will not be able to gain access to MyDigital ID.

However, last year, India’s digital ID system got hacked, and roughly 815 million Indians’ personal data were put on sale on the dark web, comprising 10 percent of the world’s population, several media recalled.

However, the verification involves checks against multiple government databases, which lowers the chances of error, argued Saat.

He added that the government hopes “to streamline government services into a single portal,” referring to a website or application “for accessing government services.”

Saat Shukri Embong also lashed out at those viewing the development as part of a broader plan to control the lives of individuals. “The government is also trying to tackle conspiracy theories involving the program, such as that it involves implanting chips under the skin.”

Mimos and the government “will be working to dispel these false rumors.”

Christian news website The WinePress isn’t convinced.

DIGITAL ID

The site commented that Malaysia is one of the roughly “hundreds” nations, states, and territories “working towards a digital ID framework.”

It claimed that digital IDs are needed to facilitate Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and “social credit scores” monitoring people’s behavior, as is happening in China.

“So, therefore, this system still must be established first. Of course, the government has to quell “conspiracies” about microchipping, so [it means] more censorship, of course. But, anyone with sense knows where this is going, and it WILL eventually result in microchipping,” the site commented.

The site referred to Bible verse Revelation 13:16-18: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

However, at least some Bible teachers argue that this will happen during a seven-year timeframe after the rapture of the Church ahead of Christ Jesus’ return to the world.

Yet the blueprint of that coming period is becoming increasingly clear, Christian commentators suggest.

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