The National Registration Department (NRD) has issued 169,346 new generation MyKads nationwide between Sept 17 and Oct 6, reflecting strong public demand for the upgraded identity cards featuring enhanced security technology.
NRD Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias said the Federal Territories recorded the highest number of issuances at 20,592, followed by Johor (18,871), Sarawak (15,777), Sabah (13,711) and Selangor (13,452).
He attributed the encouraging response to the significant upgrade in security features, which have increased from 23 to 53, strengthening protection against identity forgery and document fraud.
To accommodate rising applications, Badrul Hisham said the department had increased its card production centres nationwide from 60 to 70.
Of the 70 centres, only the Langkawi facility has yet to begin operations, with final preparations underway before its expected opening.
NRD records for September also showed that male applicants accounted for 57% of applications, outnumbering female applicants.
Despite the strong response, Badrul Hisham advised Malaysians against rushing to replace their existing MyKads if the embedded chips remain in good working condition.
He stressed that the rollout of the new generation MyKad is intended to strengthen identity security, while existing cards with functioning chips remain usable.
