The MM chip has arrived

Malaysia has launched the world's smallest microchip with radio technology.

Dubbed the Malaysia Microchip (MM) and measuring just 0.7mm by 0.7mm, the chip is so small it can be embedded on paper.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who launched the microchip last week, said some of the applications being developed for it would help improve the public service delivery system.

For example, he said, it could help counter the forgery of government documents, currency notes, halal certificates, medical products and compact discs.

The Home Ministry will soon be rolling out the first government application: RFID-enabled holographic security labels to verify the authenticity of CDs and DVDs, to combat piracy.

The ministry is also looking to embed the chips on marriage and birth certificates to counter forgery, among other things.

Three versions of the chip were developed after the Malaysian government in 2003 bought the technology and the rights to design, manufacture and market the chip from Japan's FEC.

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Edwin Yapp

An engineer by training, Edwin first cut his teeth as a cellular radio frequency optimization engineer in one of Malaysia's largest telcos. After more than five years, he hung up his radio engineering boots to try his hand at technology reporting at The Star, Malaysia's leading English daily, where he won several awards for Best Online Technology reporting. He left to start his own editorial consultancy and is now a freelance journalist for several publications, including ZDNet Asia. A self-confessed gadget geek, Edwin hopes his blog contributions will stir up deeper discussions within the Malaysian technology scene.