Malaysians have been advised not to rush to National Registration Department (JPN) offices to replace their MyKad when applications for the new version open on Sept 17.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the rollout of the new MyKad, which comes with about 50 additional security features, would be carried out in phases while existing MyKad cards remain valid for daily transactions.
“I just want to advise people not to rush to replace (their MyKad) immediately. Currently, 24 million MyKad cards have been issued, while the average number of MyKad cards issued each month is between 180,000 and 200,000,” he told reporters in Port Dickson today.
He also assured Malaysians that replacing their MyKad would not affect any remaining balances or eligibility for subsidies linked to the identification document.
“There is no issue regarding transactions involving remaining subsidy balances… the records are based on the old MyKad,” he said.
Saifuddin also said JPN handles between 13,000 and 15,000 cases of unregistered births each year, a figure he described as still high despite Malaysia having been independent for decades.
He said the issue stemmed from various factors including lack of information, social problems and family issues, which could affect children’s future.
“The reality is that we still have problems among members of society who do not have the basic knowledge that every birth must be registered, and it is still considered something normal.
“JPN handles between 13,000 and 15,000 such cases of unregistered births each year. This figure is considered high when the country has been independent for a long time,” he said.
He urged parents, guardians and members of the public with information on unregistered births to approach JPN offices for assistance, noting that birth registration is free.
