New-gen MyKad rollout to cost govt RM120mil annually

PETALING JAYA: The rollout of Malaysia’s new-generation MyKad is expected to cost the government about RM120 million annually, based on an estimated issuance of three million cards a year.

Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the project is being implemented through a pay-per-issue contract, under which the government only pays for cards successfully issued to applicants.

“The payment rate is fixed at RM40 per card. Based on an estimated issuance of three million cards annually, the implementation cost is estimated at about RM120 million per year.

“However, the actual expenditure will depend on the number of cards issued in a given year,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

He was responding to Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who asked about the total cost of implementing the next-generation MyKad, whether the government planned to require phased replacement of existing cards, and the cost implications for the public.

Since June 1, the national registration department has rolled out a new-generation MyKad featuring 53 security upgrades.

Saifuddin said that Putrajaya has no plans to mandate a blanket replacement exercise, stressing that cards currently in use remain valid and can continue to be used.

Instead, he said the new cards will be introduced in phases and issued only to specific categories of applicants.

These include first-time applications by Malaysian citizens upon reaching the age of 12, as well as replacement applications from holders of the plastic identity card, high-quality identity card, and Version 1 MyKad that do not have the ghost image security feature.

Saifuddin also said the government would ensure the new rollout does not impose additional costs on the public.

“The fee charged to applicants remains at RM10 for processing purposes, with no increase arising from the introduction of the new-generation MyKad,” he said.