JOHOR BARU: Malaysians do not need to rush to replace their MyKad when the new version is introduced on June 1, says the Home Minister.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there is no requirement for holders to immediately change their cards.
“The law states that every Malaysian citizen must possess a MyKad upon reaching the age of 12. That is the law.
“However, the law does not state that beginning June 1 when the new MyKad is introduced, holders of the old MyKad must immediately replace their cards.
“Possessing a MyKad is mandatory, but it is not stated that all citizens must replace their cards simultaneously,” he said after visiting the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project here.
Saifuddin Nasution urged people not to rush to National Registration Department (JPN) offices on June 1 to replace their MyKad, saying more than 20 million Malaysians currently hold the identification card.
The new MyKad will feature 53 security elements compared with 23 on the current version.
The upgraded security features include laser engraving, ultraviolet (UV) elements, holograms, guilloche patterns, microtext, QR codes for enforcement purposes and a chip with enhanced encryption technology.
This new rollout marks the sixth generation of MyKad.
The current version, which uses a microchip to store personal information, was introduced in 2001, with the last update in 2012.
JPN director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias earlier said the introduction of the new MyKad reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening identity security in line with technological advancements and evolving security challenges.
