Deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah told the Dewan Rakyat today the QR code is intended to curb forgery and the misuse of the MyKad, while keeping up with modern security standards.

The new MyKad will be rolled out from June 1 next year.

“The government has approved a new contract for the supply of the MyKad, MyTentera and MyPoca cards,” he said.

“One of the upgraded security features is a MyKad QR code, which serves as a digital confirmation that the identity card is genuine.”

Shamsul said the national registration department would be able to process requests to amend details, subject to the type of changes sought.

He also said his ministry would look into a request by Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) to have Bumiputera identification and religion status printed on the new MyKad.

Earlier, Willie highlighted a recent incident in which a bank worker allegedly humiliated a Sarawakian Bumiputera citizen by publicly questioning whether she was a Muslim.

He also said non-Muslim Sabahans and Sarawakians faced difficulty eating in public during Ramadan because of the assumption that they are Malay Muslims.