App to aid in checking international student’s identity

EDUCATION Malaysia Global Services Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) in collaboration with Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad (PNMB), has introduced a mobile application which will aid law enforcement agencies, namely the police and the Immigration Department in checking the authenticity of an international student’s identity and validity of the student’s visa in a briefing to law enforcement agencies on Thursday.

The briefing session is meant to enhance awareness amongst law enforcement agencies on the i-Kad for international students launched last year.

The mobile apps designed by PNMB allows both online and offline verification of the student’s identity.

This will curb instances where students are detained over suspicion of their identities.

The i-Kad for international students contains information such as a student’s name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, name of the institution which the student is registered with, the student pass expiry date and a picture of the student.

“The i-kad is equipped with stringent security features to ensure it is protected against forgery. Its unique design, biometric elements, security chip, SQR code and 2D barcode are some of the security features built into the identity card.

“The mobile apps will be made available to officers, authorised by the respective agencies.

“Once logged in to the app, the law enforcement officer needs to scan the SQR code on the back of the student’s i-Kad to access real time information on the student,” said a PNMB spokesperson.

EMGS chief executive officer Mohd Yazid Abdul Hamid said in a statement, that the mobile apps introduced allows law enforcement officers to check the authenticity of a student’s identity, simply from using a mobile phone.

“This expedites the entire vetting process. Currently, when a student is detained on suspicion, the police will request a letter from the Immigration Department to validate the student’s identity and background information.

“This can take time, particularly if it’s a weekend or during public holidays,” he said.

With this app, he said that police officers in the field can vet the student’s identity within minutes while the desktop application which is linked to the EMGS portal can be used by officers in police stations in the country.

“These initiative go a long way in enhancing international students’ security and welfare,” said Mohd Yazid.

He said the number of international students in Malaysia has almost tripled in the past 10 years, from 46,000 students in 2005 to 135,000 students in 2015.

Law enforcement agencies and its officers play a vital role in the maintenance of a conducive and safe education ecosystem for the international student community, he added.