NRD issues 169,346 new generation MyKads nationwide in three weeks

In just three weeks, between September 17 and October 6, the National Registration Department (NRD) issued a total of 169,346 New Generation MyKads across Malaysia, according to Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias. The Federal Territories led with 20,592 pieces, followed by Johor with 18,871, Sarawak with 15,777, Sabah with 13,711, and Selangor with 13,452. The NRD attributes the overwhelming response to the upgrade from 23 to 53 high-tech security features, which aim to reduce identity forgery.

To keep up with the surge in applications, the NRD expanded its card production facilities from 60 to 70 nationwide, with only one center in Langkawi still in final preparation mode. During September, 57 percent of applicants were male, while female applicants constituted the remaining 43 percent. The NRD director urged the public not to rush to replace their old MyKads with the new generation if the existing chip remains functional.

NRD's initiatives, such as the Mekar Komuniti programme in Terengganu, have been instrumental in facilitating access to MyKads for various vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, Orang Asli, chronically ill individuals, mentally ill patients, and senior citizens. These efforts have resulted in 25 successful Mekar programmes in Terengganu this year alone.

The Terengganu NRD director, Awatif Hannan Md Yusup, emphasized that these statistics represent the lives of people who have benefited from NRD services. He further highlighted that behind each MyKad lies an identity, dignity, and a human being.

NRD's mission extends beyond mere management of identity cards; it is about safeguarding the people's identity and maintaining trust in the nation. Badrul Hisham stressed that the NRD should not only be efficient in its systems but also empathetic in its services.