KUALA LUMPUR - iVEST of MIMOS Berhad and Digicert Sdn Bhd (the licensed certification authority in Malaysia) recently announced the immediate availability of their joint solution – iVEST 4MyKad online kit – at all authorised retail outlets throughout the country.

This MyKad PKI online kit will hasten the implementation of PKI-based services that provide the convenience and peace-of-mind for e-services to flourish in Malaysia.

PKI or Public Key Infrastructure is an international security standard designed for secure online transactions and communications using cryptography and digital certificate technology. It serves as a foundation to enable secure e-business transactions and e-public services.

Meanwhile, the Inland Revenue Board or LHDN (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia) has launched the secure e-Filing service by using iVEST technology.

e-Filing is the latest e-service by LHDN (www.hasilnet.org.my) that allows company tax-payers to conveniently submit their tax returns over the Internet with a legally-binding digital signature. Tax-payers need to use MyKad that has been PKI-enabled by an iVEST 4MyKad online kit for this purpose.

“We applaud LHDN for being the first Government agency in Malaysia to embrace and roll-out MyKad PKI to the public”, commented Datuk Dr. Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen, CEO and president of MIMOS Berhad. “This innovative use of state-of-the-art PKI technology will makes delivery of e-public services an easier task, now that the national infrastructure is in place.”

“The birth of iVEST 4MyKad that can PKI-enable a MyKad has demonstrated the strength of iVEST-MIMOS, a local Malaysian innovator, who has developed this indigenous application to help create standards that will ultimately define the e-business and e-public service markets,” said Dato’ Dr. Mohd Ariff Araff, chairman of MIMOS Berhad (www.mimos.my).

In MyKad, the government of Malaysia has successfully provided its citizens with a smart card that can perform much functionality. This multi-purpose card provides secure storage for applications such as identification, driving license, ATM, passport information, medical information, transportation pass, eCash and PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).

IVEST (www.ivest.com.my) was appointed by the government of Malaysia to provide advisory service to create the PKI support in MyKad. Together with the inclusion of iVEST client modules in MyKad PKI, every citizen of Malaysia will now be able to use its MyKad smart card to securely access any PKI-enabled services provided by both the public and private sectors.

MyKad, once PKI-enabled, has key features which include user authentication, the individual’s digital signature as legal proof of transactions performed, encryption of sensitive data and a private key used for signing that is safely stored in the tamper-proof smart card.

The iVEST 4MyKad online kit that an end-user can easily buy from the nearest IT retailer comes with a digital certificate, PKI software, smart card reader and user support, according to a statement by Ivest. For a limited time period, Ivest said, this online kit is available at a special price for e-Filing users at all its authorised resellers nationwide.

Lee Hooi Teck, director of iVEST said, "As a market leader in PKI solutions, iVEST is poised to leverage our 4-year history in deploying PKI to customers nationwide to help them adopt and exploit this technological breakthrough in markets that require higher reliable authentication schemes and digital signatures, “

“MyKad will help the public at large in becoming comfortable with electronic transactions. The government has come out with the legal and technological infrastructure for proliferation of e-commerce and the public should take advantage of this. Together with iVEST, we are proud to be in the team that is making the government’s vision a reality,” commented Noor Azli Othman, CEO, Digicert Sdn Bhd (www.digicert.com.my)