MyKad Info | Malaysia Government Multipurpose Smart Identity Card

This is the main MyKad info page. MyKad, or Government Multipurpose Card (GMPC) is the official compulsory identity card of Malaysia. MyKad is considered as world’s first smart identity card. The MyKad or GMPC project is part of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative. MyKad was officially launched on September 5, 2001 and incorporates a microchip, which contains several items of data including biometrics. From March 2003, a variant of this identity card for newborn babies was introduced, known as MyKid.

The word “My” in “MyKad” signifies Malaysia’s top level domain country code .my and also indicating personal ownership of the card. The word “Kad” is the acronym of “Kad Akuan Diri” or translated as “Personal Identification Card” as well as “Kad Aplikasi Digital” (Digital Application Card) and also means “card”.

Malaysian Citizens owns blue coloured MyKad. Permanent Residents owns red coloured MyKad.

The upgraded and current version of the MyKad is a hybrid card containing two chips for both contact and contactless interfaces. Currently, this hybrid type MyKad is only issued in Malaysian states that uses the Touch ‘n Go application.

The MyKad chip has a retains data for up to 20 years, while the card itself has a lifespan of 10 years and has been tested according to the ISO 10373 standard.

Eligibility for MyKad

All Malaysian citizens and permanent residents 12 years old or above are eligible for a MyKad. All newborn babies are issued with a MyKid. This is “upgraded” to a MyKad on the 12th birthday. The MyKad must be replaced when a person reaches 18 years old, as it is a requirement that the photograph be ‘current’. MyKad must be carried at all times. Failure to do so may incur a fine of between RM3,000 and RM20,000 or jail term of up to three years.

Mykad JPN Malaysia indentification card logo

Functions of MyKad

The MyKad is a piece of plastic with an embedded microchip and has the dimensions of a standard credit card. MyKad contains a 80Kb EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) chip running on the M-COS (MyKad Chip Operating System) operating system.

MyKad info on it’s functions available are:

  • Identity card, including fingerprints and photo
  • Driving licence information
  • Travel document in Malaysia and several neighboring countries. However, a traditional passport is still required for international travel: MyKad is aimed at reducing congestion at the border by enabling the use of unmanned gates using biometric (fingerprint) identification.
  • Storage for health information
  • e-cash
  • ATM integration
  • Touch ‘n Go, Malaysia’s toll road payment system and also public transport payment system
  • Digital certificate, commonly known as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

MyKad Info – Content pages in this article

  1. MyKad Info: The Malaysia Government Multipurpose Smart Identity Card
  2. MyKad Identity Number
  3. MyKad Application/Replacement/Status Procedures
  4. National Registration Department (NRD) of Wilayah Persekutuan (Putrajaya) Contact Details
  5. National Registration Department (NRD) of Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur) Contact Details
  6. National Registration Department (NRD) of Wilayah Persekutuan (Labuan) Contact Details
  7. National Registration Department (NRD) of Perlis Contact Details
  8. National Registration Department (NRD) of Kedah Contact Details
  9. National Registration Department (NRD) of Pulau Pinang Contact Details
  10. National Registration Department (NRD) of Perak Contact Details
  11. National Registration Department (NRD) of Selangor Contact Details
  12. National Registration Department (NRD) of Negeri Sembilan Contact Details
  13. National Registration Department (NRD) of Melaka Contact Details
  14. National Registration Department (NRD) of Johor Contact Details
  15. National Registration Department (NRD) of Pahang Contact Details
  16. National Registration Department (NRD) of Terengganu Contact Details
  17. National Registration Department (NRD) of Kelantan Contact Details
  18. National Registration Department (NRD) of Sabah Contact Details
  19. National Registration Department (NRD) of Sarawak Contact Details

Source: www.jpn.gov.my