PUTRAJAYA, Jan. 8 -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department will introduce a new Malaysian passport and a new MyKad by the second quarter or early third quarter of this year.

He said the new versions will be enhanced with more advanced security features to further strengthen their reliability and integrity.

"This replacement is not done arbitrarily. It is a security responsibility that must be carried out after a certain period of use," he told reporters at a press conference after his New Year's address here today.

Saifuddin Nasution added that existing passports and MyKad will remain valid until their expiry.

"Continue using your current documents u...