normanfernandez

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MALAYSIAN MICROCHIP ?

Recently, in Parliament, Mohd. Shafie Mohd Salleh (BN- Hulu Langat), suggested that the government implant a microchip in illegal immigrants or make them wear an unremovable bracelet to prevent them from returning to Malaysia. (Malaysiakini 30th August 2006).

Ironically, a microchip with such possibilities had indeed become became available when on September 5, 2003 Dr Mahathir Mohamed announced that the government had for an undisclosed amount bought the intellectual property rights to a miniature microchip from a Japanese company FEC Inc. Dr Mahathir Mohamed claimed that the aptly dubbed Malaysian Microchip (MM) and measuring 0.5mm x 0.5mm - approximately the size of a decimal point was so small and so revolutionary that the microchip could be embedded into currencies to passport and even inside human bodies. Since the microchip also came with a built-in antenna, there were a myriad of possibilities.

Then, a year later, on the 2nd March 2004, the government announced that it would begin commercial production of the microchip which initially would be manufactured in Japan and thereafter production will be shifted to Silterra (M) Sdn Bhd, a wafer fabrication firm belonging to Kedah state government.

Three years after the first announcement it would be good to know whatever has become of Malaysian Microchip?