Cover image via SAYS
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If you currently use your IC to pay for tolls, public transport, or even as a backup payment method, there's a small change coming your way
Malaysia's new MyKad, which is expected to roll out in June, will no longer come with the built-in Touch 'n Go (TNG) feature.
The announcement was made by National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias during a media engagement session recently, reported Bernama.
According to him, the upgraded MyKad will instead focus heavily on stronger security and identity protection features, as technology and security threats continue to evolve.
Compared to the current version, which has 23 security elements, the new MyKad will come with 53
Some of the new features include:
- Laser engraving
- Ultraviolet (UV) security elements
- Holograms
- Guilloche patterns (intricate line designs commonly seen on banknotes and passports that help make documents harder to counterfeit)
- Microtext
- QR codes for enforcement purposes
- A chip with upgraded encryption technology
According to the New Straits Times, Badrul Hisham said the newer card offers significantly stronger protection than the existing version and reflects the government's efforts to improve identity security in line with current technological developments.
The official launch date will be announced by the Home Ministry.
With the new MyKad no longer supporting the built-in Touch 'n Go feature, users will need to rely on alternative options for payments and transport
Here's what you can do instead:
- Continue using a separate Touch 'n Go card for tolls, public transport, and parking
- Use the Touch 'n Go eWallet app, which supports QR payments and reloads
- Switch to other payment methods, depending on the service, such as debit or credit cards at selected tolls or parking systems
The removal of the embedded TNG function means the IC itself will no longer double as a payment card, but users can still use the wider Touch 'n Go ecosystem separately.
Besides the new MyKad, Badrul Hisham also shared that updated versions of MyPoCA and MyTentera cards are expected to be introduced next month as well
This latest update comes after the government previously announced that new MyKad and passport designs with enhanced security features would begin rolling out in stages from June.
