The future of businesses and industries in Malaysia will be driven by digital technology as unveiled in our government’s MyDIGITAL blueprint. It requires everyone to gear up our readiness in leveraging these technologies, especially in promoting the safety, security, efficiency, and equality of society. Just as we are familiar with the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), there needs to be a validated representation of humans in the digital world. The fact that we need to register individually every single time we access separate government and private services. Imagine if every bank and company including conveniences store in Malaysia introduce its own identity system; there will be a lot of enrolling happening, which can make the identification process very inefficient. We can save a lot of efforts and cost by having a single digital identity and a single national bio-hub digital identity that validates all the information required from a person to prevent repetitive process from happening.

The process of digital inclusion includes a digital replica of physical assets (physical twin), processes, people, places, systems, and devices that can be used for various purposes. The digital representation provides both the elements and the dynamics of how an IoT device operates and lives throughout its life cycle. A person’s identity needs to be safely and accurately replicated in the cyber world.  A digital ID is an electronic equivalent of an individual's identity card. It can be presented electronically to prove an individual's identity and his or her right to access information or services online. This is made possible with the aid of biometrics technology which traditionally only has fingerprints - now it includes advanced and perfect face recognition and voice.

We need to embrace the enabling of a digital twin of individuals using the vast potential of biometrics technologies across industries, especially in enabling the adoption of Digital ID in Malaysia. Biometrics is currently taking centre stage in MedTech and potentially witness the development of a digital health pass that uses face recognition system to alleviate congestion at tourist sites and event venues. This is currently being tested by NEC in Japan utilising NEC’s new face recognition capabilities that can authenticate users with high precision, even with a mask on.