Govt not taking over passport, MyKad supplier Datasonic

The Malaysian government has clarified that it is not planning to take over Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd, the firm responsible for supplying passports and national identity cards in the country. This statement was made by the National Security Council (MKN), countering earlier reports suggesting a potential acquisition at an estimated value of RM7.5 billion.

MKN emphasized that the country's citizens' identities are among its most critical strategic assets and that national security and sovereignty are of the highest priority. The government remains committed to ensuring secure and trustworthy services for all citizens while exploring proactive strategies to safeguard identity security.

Datasonic's parent company, NexG Bhd, initially received an indicative price request from the finance ministry in July. The RM7.5 billion figure was based on an internal assessment by NexG's management and was not an independent valuation or firm offer. Any potential transaction would still require further discussions, negotiations, and potentially an independent valuation.