Photos of MyDigital ID and MyJPJ apps together. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Come Feb 1, MyDigital ID will be the sole sign-in method for millions of users of the MyJPJ app but consumer groups have called for other alternatives as well to cater to less tech-savvy consumers and potential technical issues.
MyJPJ contains information such as driver’s licence and vehicle registration number.
“From a policy and system design perspective, this move is understandable. A unified digital identity can reduce duplication, minimise fraud and enhance data security by ensuring that access to sensitive personal information such as driving licences, vehicle ownership records and summonses is tied to a verified individual,” said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations secretary-general T. Saravanan.
This approach, he said, is aligned with global trends, where governments are moving towards single sign-on systems to improve efficiency and trust in digital public services.
Saravanan said the infrastructure must be robust and reliable.
“The true test lies in operational readiness, including system stability, user support mechanisms and the capacity to handle a sudden increase in registrations and logins,” he said.
“If MyDigital ID becomes mandatory without sufficient preparation, system downtime, registration bottlenecks or verification failures could disrupt access to essential JPJ services. Therefore, the rollout must be gradual, well-communicated and supported by contingency measures to avoid inconvenience to users,” he added.
The key concern, he said, is whether the elderly or users who are less digital savvy could access the system.
“Many senior citizens may not own smartphones. Or they may use older devices that are incompatible with newer applications, or they may struggle with digital processes such as facial recognition or password management.”
“For these groups, making MyDigital ID the only access route risks unintentionally excluding them from essential services,” he said.
He suggested alternatives to be in place such as physical counters, help desks, mobile registration units and community-based support, particularly in rural areas and urban low-income communities.
“Without these safeguards, the elderly and digitally marginalised may become dependent on third parties, which in itself raises concerns about privacy, data misuse and potential exploitation,” he said.
Head of Legal Bureau at the Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA), Nazri Yahya, said a trusted national digital identity can significantly strengthen verification processes.
“In fact, prior to this, MCCA had proposed that MyDigital ID be used as a platform for mobile phone SIM card registration, as this would assist authorities in accurately identifying who is truly behind a registered phone number. Such an initiative would greatly reduce misuse of anonymous numbers for scams, fraud and cybercrime,” he said.
However, he also raised the question of whether the data collected is protected. He said the government must explain what security measures are in place to prevent data breaches and how data is stored, encrypted and segregated.
“The government should clearly communicate the data security measures implemented within the MyDigital ID ecosystem, particularly on how personal data is safeguarded against unauthorised access and potential breaches.”
When contacted, a spokesperson for MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd said there are eight million registered users to date.
According to the company, access to MyDigital ID remains secure even when users forget their password or if their mobile device is lost or damaged.
In such cases, users should revoke their existing digital certificate as a security measure.
