News & Reviews:   identity

Last night, the National Registration Department confirmed that Malaysia’s upcoming new-generation MyKad will come equipped with 53 security features, a significant increase from the 23 security elements found in the current version. The upgraded MyKad is expected to be introduced as early as next month.

As the Malaysian government targets 15 million new MyDigital ID registrations during 2026, it seems that bank users will be part of it. According to this news source, 18 banking institutions in Malaysia have confirmed their participation in Phase 2 of the MyDigital ID sandbox. This phase focuses on testing e-verification technology designed to securely confirm a user’s identity when opening new accounts or conducting real-time banking operations.

The Malaysian government has very big plans for MyDigital ID. According to news sources, they are aiming to attract 15 million new MyDigital ID registrations during 2026 as part of a broader effort to deepen adoption of a unified digital identity system nationwide.

We have been writing about the MyDigital ID news for a while now, and the Malaysian government seems to be pushing it to be something more. According to The Star, they are accelerating the push toward a unified digital identity system, with MyDigital ID set to play a central role in how citizens access both public and private digital services starting in 2026.

On late Sunday, it was announced that all telecommunications companies will officially begin integrating MyDigital ID identity verification into their mobile applications starting today. The nationwide rollout is an initiative by Malaysia’s ongoing cyber defence strategy, aiming to curb scams, identity fraud, and the misuse of unverified SIM cards.

With the many recent controversies surrounding Roblox, the company is introducing a major update to its safety system: millions of users — especially teens aged 13 and over — will now be prompted to verify their age using a video selfie. The company is working with identity-verification firm Persona to analyse facial features and estimate how old a person is.

Malaysia recorded cybercrime losses exceeding RM1.22 billion between January and October 2024, according to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail. The staggering figure highlights the growing scale and sophistication of online threats — from financial scams and identity theft to data breaches and digital deception.

In a proactive move to combat the surge of online fraud, the Malaysian government is exploring legislation that would require advertisers on social media platforms to verify their identities, according to Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

Earlier today, the Cabinet has given the go-ahead in developing a National Digital Identity system which will go hand-in-hand with the pre-existing NRIC. As of now, the MCMC will be in charge of conducting a nine-month-long study on how feasible the proposed system will be.