Your digital persona
From a digital identity for online transactions to sending parcels, government bodies and companies are looking at ways to speed things up.
THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is asking for the public’s feedback on how to fine-tune the framework for a National Digital Identity (NDI).
NDI is an electronic ID that includes biometric technology for authentication such as fingerprint, facial or iris scanning.
It is expected to make verification faster, speeding up online services that require identification, and also reduce the risk of identity theft or fraud.
Users have until Aug 7 to share their opinion at the MCMC website (bit.ly/ tech_ndi).
The regulatory body also announced that it will be inviting the public to participate in four surveys – the Hand Phone Users Survey, E-commerce Consumers Survey, Consumer Satisfaction Survey (Broadband Service), and Consumer Satisfaction Survey (Mobile-cellular Service) – via Whatsapp and SMS.
It will select the people randomly and contact them via two phone numbers – 017-728 6262 and 017-364 6262 – and advised the public not to entertain messages from other numbers.
Those who agree to do it will be given a unique username, password and link to the survey.
The first 10,000 recipients to complete the survey will receive an RM5 e-voucher as a token of appreciation.
The survey will be conducted until the end of the year, and the public can contact the MCMC CATI Centre at 03-8688 8594 for more information.
Meanwhile, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry said it still has to study the capabilities of telcos before calling for tenders for the 700MHZ frequency band, the “pioneering spectrum” for the implementation of the 5G network.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said whether the 700MHZ spectrum would be allocated to a consortium or individual licensees was also still under discussion.
“We are still discussing the 700MHZ frequency band, on the basis that we will give priority to telecommunication companies with existing subscribers,” he said in a press conference after visiting the 5G Command Centre (5GCC) at the Langkawi district and land office.
He added that a decision would be made soon as the band is essential in maximising broadband usage nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Khairy Jamaluddin chaired a joint meeting with the Digital Economy Task Force (DETF).
DETF has 32 members, comprising senior officials from ministries and government agencies, as well as industry representatives.
In a shared statement, the two ministers said they will work together through DETF to revitalise sectors impacted by the pandemic.
DETF will be guided by four pillars: empowering the people, boosting businesses, stimulating the economy and enabling capabilities.
They have selected fifteen high-impact programmes to achieve this.
For instance, the programmes to empower the people will include developing talent in the digital and gig economy.
To boost businesses it will have programmes such as adoption of e-commerce and the digitalisation of small and medium enterprises (SMES).
And programmes to stimulate the economy include attracting investment and digitalisation of the public sector.
One organisation that’s harnessing digital tech is Pos Malaysia – it’s implementing e-consignment nationwide starting Aug 17, omitting the need to fill forms using pen and paper.
The e-consignment form can be accessed via its Pos Mobile app, which is available for Android and IOS devices.
The app will calculate the delivery charge based on the user’s description of a package, and generate a QR code and a reference number, which must be used to print out the form using kiosks at its outlets.