The rollout of Malaysia’s new Malaysian Passport (PMA) with enhanced security features has been postponed until further notice.
According to Immigration Department of Malaysia’s (JIM) statement signed by Immigration Department director-general Dato’ Zakaria Bin Shaaban, the new passport version which was previously scheduled to begin on 1st June 2026, will now be rescheduled to a later date.
According to JIM, the postponement is aimed at ensuring smooth service delivery and maintaining the best possible user experience for the public. The department added that Malaysians can still renew their existing passports as usual, while current passports that remain valid can continue to be used until expiry.
JIM said further updates regarding the implementation of the new PMA version will be announced through official Immigration Department channels..
The new Malaysian Passport boasts 94 security features versus 49 previously. The latest improvements are meant to enhance its anti-counterfeit measures, making it harder to forge or tamper with.
Among the new additions include a polycarbonate biodata page, laser engraving technology and upgraded security elements embedded throughout the passport document. The Home Ministry had also said the new design meets the latest standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The government had also reminded applicants not to use AI-generated or heavily edited photos for passport applications. This follows growing concerns over digitally manipulated images which may fail biometric verification checks or affect facial recognition systems used for immigration clearance.
The Malaysian passport is currently ranked third globally in 2025, making it among the world’s most powerful passports.
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