As the sun rises over a digitally evolving Malaysia, I find myself reflecting on a journey that began not with fanfare, but with a quiet, steadfast belief in a sovereign digital future for every Malaysian. With MyDigital ID now gaining deserved recognition, it feels essential to share its true story — a story of early conviction, unsung heroes, and a foundational vision that refused to fade.
This is more than a project timeline. It’s a memoir of national digital resilience.
Chapter 1: The Quiet Birth (2015-2018) – Where It Truly Began
Long before it became a national conversation, MyDigital ID was a seed planted in the minds of MIMOS’s finest. It was conceived, architected, and built under the MOSTI RMK-11 R&D Programme (2015-2020), a testament to Malaysia’s ambition to craft its own digital destiny.
This was no borrowed concept. This was our homegrown answer to digital identity and security, spearheaded by the MIMOS National Security Laboratory and brought to life through a symphony of expertise from MIMOS Blockchain, Infostructure, Corporate Strategy, and the tireless Techno-Venture team. It was a whole-of-MIMOS endeavour, rooted in the principles of sovereign technology, digital trust, and national security.
By 2018, the core system was not just a prototype; it was complete and operational. It was first deployed within the heart of government – Bahagian Kabinet, JPM – and silently extended to over 30 government agencies via MAMPU’s Government Online Services Gateway (GOSG). The foundation was laid, strong and silent.
Chapter 2: The Unseen Groundwork – Connecting with Malaysians
While the system hummed within government servers, another team began the human work of connection. MIMOS Services Sdn Bhd took to the ground, setting up, operating, and maintaining the physical touchpoints of trust. Those mini-terminals at Tealive outlets and other high-traffic locations? That was them. The patient, face-to-face enrolment drives? That was them. This was the unsung, operational marathon that built the initial bridge to the public, long before the wider rollout.
Chapter 3: Evolution, Not Reinvention (2023 & Beyond)
The increased activity and awareness in 2023 were often misunderstood. This was not a course correction, but a confident evolution. The original architecture was sound. What happened was necessary growth:
• Modernization: Upgrading for Android 12, iOS 10, and embracing new ecosystems like Huawei Harmony OS.
• Strengthening: Migrating to full production, integrating additional systems, and fortifying security with advanced eKYC layers.
• Maturing Governance: To ensure transparency, auditability, and focused execution, the conscious decision was made to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd. With its own board, management, and clear governance, it was structured for success. Today, it stands proudly as an independent entity under MOF Inc. and JPM, a structure designed to protect its mission.
Chapter 4: The Pulse of Today – A Vision Validated
And now, the vision is blooming. If you’ve been following the news; from print to electronic to social media; you’ll feel the momentum.
• Media headlines now report on its expanding adoption, not its doubt.
• Key ministries and agencies are actively integrating MyDigital ID, validating its government-wide utility.
• Discussions in the public sphere have shifted from “if” to “how” and “when,” a sign of growing public and institutional trust.
• The digital trust anchor, provided by Trustgate under Malaysia’s Digital Signature Act 1997, stands as a bedrock of its credibility.
The program is continuously improving, getting better, and gaining the tangible traction that was always envisaged. This success is the ultimate tribute to its original, sovereign blueprint.
A Heartfelt Pause: To The Architects and Builders
As I write this, my thoughts — and I believe the thoughts of a grateful nation — are with the pioneering souls who poured their intellect, sweat, and sleepless nights into this dream. Some of the very key contributors and essential figures who birthed MyDigital ID into reality are no longer with MIMOS or the SPV. But their legacy is etched into every line of code, every security protocol, and every successful authentication.
This memoir is for Ng Kang Siong, Mohd Mirza Mohamed Noor, Mohamed Redzuan Abdullah, Alwyn Goh, and the many, many others whose names may not be in today’s press releases. You who worked around the clock, sacrificed personal time, and put your brilliant thoughts together to solve problems no one had solved for Malaysia before. You saw the mountain, drew the first map, and began the climb. Today, as the nation ascends that peak, we see your footprints clearly on the path. Thank you.
Epilogue: Why This Memory Matters
Revisiting this journey is not about claiming credit. It is about honouring institutional memory, protecting integrity, and learning. It proves that Malaysia has the talent, the vision, and the tenacity to build complex, critical national digital infrastructure. It shows that success is born from continuity, disciplined governance, and sovereign R&D.
MyDigital ID did not fail in its origins; it succeeded because of them. The challenges that emerged were not from its foundational code, but from the natural complexities of scaling a national mission.
To every current builder, policymaker, and citizen engaging with MyDigital ID today: you are part of a living, breathing digital legacy. A legacy that started with a small team believing that Malaysia deserved its own key to the digital world.
Let’s carry this memory forward; not as a burden, but as a source of inspiration, humility, and energizing conviction. The next chapter of our digital nation is being written. Let’s ensure it is grounded in the same clarity, courage, and heartfelt dedication that started it all.
Sincerely Me
—Shukri—
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