Kota Kinabalu (Dec 16) - Malaysia’s push towards a fully digital government is entering a new phase, with MyDigital ID expected to play a central role in how citizens access essential services. In the near future, the digital identity will be required for matters such as registering marriages, renewing passports and applying for death certificates.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said enrolment in MyDigital ID remains voluntary for now, but the system will be progressively embedded into both government and private sector services starting next year. These include key sectors such as banking and finance, healthcare and telecommunications.
Telecommunications providers have already begun adopting the platform, with MyDigital ID now forming part of the verification process for new prepaid SIM card registrations. The government’s strategy is to drive adoption by integrating the digital ID into widely used services, making it a practical and secure necessity rather than an optional tool.
The rollout is expected to intensify throughout 2025 and 2026, as MyDigital ID becomes the single authentication gateway for the MyGov app under the national GovTech initiative. From next year onwards, Malaysians will need MyDigital ID to access services such as settling police summonses, handling Road Transport Department (JPJ) matters, receiving government payments, applying for public housing, using travel-related services and accessing financial assistance. It will also be used to log in securely to platforms like MyJPJ and MyBayar PDRM.
For Sabahans, particularly those living in interior and rural districts, the expansion of MyDigital ID signals a growing reliance on digital access to manage daily administrative needs. As more government services shift online, having MyDigital ID could reduce the need for long journeys to government offices, though it also highlights the importance of reliable internet access across the state.
Gobind said the federal government is targeting 95% of its services to be fully online by 2030. As of Dec 8, around 6.36 million people nationwide had registered for MyDigital ID, with approximately 50,000 new users signing up each day.
He described the platform as a foundation for Malaysia’s digital economy, designed to replace multiple usernames, passwords and paper-based procedures. The single sign-on feature allows faster and smoother transactions, while built-in security measures aim to minimise identity fraud. Gobind stressed that MyDigital ID functions only as a verification system, cryptographically linking users to existing records in a one-time process, and does not store personal information or monitor user activity.