KOTA KINABALU April 17 - K.K.I.P Communications Sdn Bhd (KKIPCom), a local Internet and application service provider to the Sabah state government and its public sectors, was today appointed as Digicert Sdn Bhd's first registration authority (RA) in Sabah.

With the appointment, KKIPCom joins the rank of Pos Malaysia Bhd, Mimos Bhd, GITN Sdn Bhd, Sains Sarawak and MOL as Digicert's sixth RA in Malaysia.

An agreement was signed here today between the two parties, witnessed by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Tham Nyip Shen who is also the Industrial Development Minister.

Digicert, the country's first licensed certification authority, was represented by its director Mohamad Derus Harun while KKIPCom was represented by its chairman Datuk K.Y. Mustafa.

The appointment of KKIPCom as RA would enable the company to provide secure communication over the Internet through the proper authentication and safeguard the confidentiality of the information transmitted online.

"Today's event is significant because KKIPCom will be the RA for digital certificates in Sabah and this would further enhance our leadership role in the field of information communication technology in the state," Mustafa said in his speech.

Digicert chief executive officer, Noor Azli Othman, meanwhile praised KKIPCom for the move to be the state's first RA.

"This shows your committment in ensuring Internet transaction in Sabah is highly secured and legally protected," he said.