KUALA LUMPUR — The Government has decided against taking over Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB), a company involved in providing services related to citizens’ identity management.
The National Security Council (NSC), in a statement today, said the decision was made following reports that the Government was considering acquiring the company.
“Regarding media reports on the proposed takeover of Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB), which provides citizen identity services, the Madani Government is of the position that it will not take over DTSB,” it said.
The NSC stressed that citizens’ identities were among Malaysia’s most critical strategic assets, with their security and sovereignty remaining a key priority for the Government.
“Citizen identity is one of the country’s most important strategic assets. Therefore, the Madani Government always gives the highest priority to the security and sovereignty of citizens’ identities,” it said.
It added that the Government would continue managing matters involving identity security through existing legislative, financial, governance and security frameworks.
The NSC said it would also continue exploring proactive and effective measures to protect the security and sovereignty of citizens’ identities while ensuring public funds were used responsibly.
“These strategies must also provide the best value for every ringgit spent,” it said.
The council further assured that all parties involved would continue delivering secure and reliable services to the public.
“The MADANI Government remains committed to ensuring that all parties involved continue to provide safe and trusted services to the public,” it said.
The decision follows reports that the Government was looking into a possible acquisition of DTSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of NexG Bhd.
On August 20, NexG announced that it had received a request from the Government to submit an indicative price for a potential acquisition. The company had internally estimated DTSB’s value at around RM7.5 billion.
However, NexG clarified that the figure was neither an independent valuation nor an agreed transaction value or firm offer.
DTSB is responsible for producing MyKad and has supplied ICAO-compliant Malaysian passports since 2012. It also holds mandates involving the new MyKad structure, MyTentera and MyPOCA.
As of July, NexG had secured a RM1.73 billion contract to supply passport booklets and polycarbonate biodata pages to the Immigration Department for the period from June 2026 to May 2032.
Through DTSB, the company also holds a RM732.72 million contract to supply raw cards and consumables to the National Registration Department for the same period. – August 22, 2026