Bruneians can soon use the new electronic or biometric passport which promises better security and faster processing, when the new passport is launched today, more than a year since the project was first signed between Brunei and the passport suppliers.

Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud highlighted this at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun and Adau Gayoh (PSJD), which he officiated yesterday at the ICC.

He added that the association has also played its role in the community by organising various activities that are beneficial for its members.

As one of the seven ethnic groups that add colours to the Sultanate's landscape, the richness of its language and traditions should be maintained according to this year's Adau Gayoh theme - "Memperkayakan Budaya, Memperkasakan Bangsa" (Enriching Culture, Empowering Nation).

With such strong efforts and commitment from the Dusun community, its unique identity will not only be advantageous forthe community, but also to the whole country as a national heritage treasure.

The minister congratulated PSJD, which was established in 1958, and acknowledged its leadership, while applauding its three founders, whose vision and initiatives have made it all possible.

Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja; Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof, the Minister of Home Affairs, was expected to launch the biometric passport at the Immigration and National Registration Department.

The $7.1 million e-passport project was one of the Immigration and National Registration Department's initiatives under the e-government project to replace the machine readable passport, which was introduced in 1993.

Aligned with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the national biometric passport contains several security features which were said to be difficult to duplicate.

Embedded with a 72 kilobyte chip, the passport contains permanent data on facial image and fingerprint image through a laser printing machine to verify ensuring that the examined passport is genuine and owned by the rightful person.

Another security characteristic is that through the Public Key Directory introduced by ICAO, officials at immigration control posts can determine the authenticity of the passport.

It will also cut down on entry processing time at immigration checkpoints, and the exemption of visas to enter specific countries.

The biometric passport project is a joint undertaking between local company Information Technology Protective Security Service and German company Giesecke & Devrient in producing and supplying the passports.

The leading German supplier of smart cards and cutting edge system solutions has been supplying Brunei's passports since 1993.