Govt will not take over Datasonic Technologies, says NSC

The Malaysian government has ruled out taking over Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd, a firm specializing in services related to Malaysian identity documents, according to the National Security Council (NSC). The NSC made this statement in response to recent media reports suggesting a potential takeover of the company. The NSC emphasized that the protection of individuals' identities is of utmost importance to the nation, and thus, the government remains committed to ensuring the security and sovereignty of Malaysian citizens' personal information.

The government's approach to regulating this matter involves a combination of legislative, financial, governance, and security measures. The NSC reiterated that these strategies are continuously evaluated to determine the most effective and cost-efficient methods for safeguarding the nation's identity security. Earlier, it was reported that the government was contemplating the acquisition of Datasonic Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NexG Bhd, following a request for an indicative price for a potential takeover.

NexG had initially estimated the value of DTSB at RM7.5 billion, although it clarified that this figure was not an independent valuation or a confirmed transaction price. As of July, NexG had secured a RM1.73 billion contract to provide passport books and polycarbonate biodata pages to the Immigration Department from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2032.

Additionally, through DTSB, NexG was also contracted to supply raw cards and consumables to the National Registration Department, with a value of RM732.72 million, valid from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2032.