PUTRAJAYA: The new integrated burial permit and death registration system will curb incidences of identity theft in the country.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the system is expected to be fully implemented next year.
He said although the scourge of identity theft is not a major concern in Malaysia, it does occur, especially online.
"Cases are more rampant with regard to online businesses and banking, where criminals use stolen or fake identities to steal money," he said at the launch of the system today, in conjunction with National Registration Department celebrations.
The pilot project began on Sept 28 at four police stations and five National Registration Department (JPN) offices nationwide, Nur Jazlan said.
The police stations are Klang, Petaling Jaya, Cheras and Salak Tinggi and the JPN offices using the new system are Klang, Petaling Jaya, Maluro, Sepang and Putrajaya.
When asked about the number of identity theft cases so far, Nur Jazlan said the police do not have the figures, as most cases often go unreported by business owners and banks that fear their image will be tainted.
On the new system, he said it will ensure that information on every death is obtained by police and linked together with JPN.
"The system will be registered with the police's database, whereby they will issue a temporary death registration receipt and burial permit.
"After that, the death information record will be sent to JPN's database for verification and issuance of death certificate," he added.