A new identi fication system for expatriates in the country will be implemented by the government from Thursday.
Called I-Pass, the new system is an improvement and will replace the current I-Kad system, The Malay Mail has learnt.
Similar in nature to the MyKad, the I-Pass will have security measures embedded, including biometric data.
Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam (pic) clari fied the change was necessary due to an upgrade in the Immigration Department’s computer system.
“ The I-Kad uses the Malaysian Immigration System (SIM) which is not necessarily linked with other Immigration systems. The I-Pass uses the My Immigration (MYIMM) System and is now integrated with other Immigration systems,” he told The Paper That Cares. Mahmood said the I-Pass system was set to a ect more than 90,000 expatriates in the country in its initial stage.
“We are targeting a two-month period for expatriates to get their new cards. Obtaining the I-Pass is free of charge.
“All they have to do is come to the Immigration o ffice, get their photos taken and thumbprints scanned and they would be able to get their I-Pass,” he said.
Mahmood said the I-Pass implementation was a continuation of the government’s 6P amnesty exercise.
“Just like the MyKad, the I-Pass has a microchip. However, the I-Pass has less security features than the former. In fact, it has less than 10 security features.”
He continued: “It also has a Quick Response code that can be scanned by anybody with a smartphone.The details of the I-Pass owner could be accessed upon scanning.”
Mahmood said a similarity between the I-Kad and the I-Pass was that it was colour-coded, with the colour depending on the sector an expat was engaged in.
However, he did not elaborate on the speci c colours used to represent each sector.
Mahmood also said following the implementation, expats can choose to carry either their passports or their I-Pass within the country.
“Expatriates move a lot in and out the country. If they choose to, they can just carry their I-Pass with them when moving about locally.”
The idea for the I-Kad system was mooted in 2006 to help authorities check on illegal immigrants and to prevent abuse and forgery during the permit renewal process.
The system was subsequently introduced in 2007, replacing the passport for legitimate foreign workers.
The card contained 17 security features which facilitated screening and enforcement.
Under the I-Kad system, foreign students were given a green-coloured card, a gold-coloured one for expats and a gold-coloured card with red stripes for their spouses.
The social visit pass for participants under the Malaysia My Second Home programme was silver-coloured while a temporary work permit is blue.
Domestic maids were issued purple cards, plantation workers red cards with yellow stripes and red cards for those in other sectors.
Although the I-Kad was free, a replacement fee was charged if their holders lost them. I-Pass security measures include:
- Different colour-code for different sectors
- Microchip with biometric data embedded
- Unique card pattern, similar to the MyKad
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Autor(en)/Author(s): T.K. Letchumy Tamboo
Quelle/Source: The Malay Mail, 29.08.2011
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