MyDigital ID registration kiosks across Malaysia will soon be equipped with a new security feature that enables real-time facial biometric verification against records held by the National Registration Department (NRD), as part of efforts to strengthen digital identity protection and curb identity-related crimes.
The National Security Council (NSC), under the Prime Minister’s Department, said the enhancement is designed to improve the accuracy of identity verification while reducing the risk of identity theft, misuse and unauthorised access.
According to the council, the latest upgrade is part of a broader security enhancement programme being rolled out for the MyDigital ID platform amid increasing concerns over online scams, identity impersonation, data breaches and other cyber threats.
“The government continues to strengthen the national digital identity ecosystem as part of the national security agenda and efforts to create a safer, more resilient and trusted digital environment,” the NSC said in a statement.
The council noted that the rapid growth in the use of digital services by individuals, businesses and government agencies has made the protection of digital identities more important than ever.
MyDigital ID remains a key pillar of Malaysia’s digital identity ecosystem, providing a secure and trusted method of identity authentication for a growing range of public and private sector online services.
As part of the enhanced security framework, existing MyDigital ID users will also be required to undergo periodic facial biometric re-verification to ensure the continued integrity and security of their digital identities.
The upgrades will be implemented in stages before being expanded to all MyDigital ID kiosks nationwide.
To facilitate the enhancement works, maintenance on MyDigital ID kiosks will be carried out from 6am on Friday until 6am on Sunday.
However, users can continue registering for MyDigital ID during the maintenance period through their smartphones by downloading the MyDigital ID application from the App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery.
The NSC added that it will continue collaborating with relevant agencies to coordinate security improvements across various identity and verification platforms, including MyKad, to ensure Malaysians’ digital identities remain protected against evolving cyber threats.
As digital transactions become increasingly common, authorities view stronger identity verification measures as a crucial step in safeguarding public trust and enhancing cybersecurity nationwide.
