Kuala lumpur: The MADANI Government has announced that it will not pursue the acquisition of Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB), a company involved in services related to citizen identity, as per the National Security Council (MKN).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this decision comes in response to media reports about a potential buyout of the company. The MKN has clarified that the government has opted against acquiring DTSB, which plays a crucial role in providing citizen identity services. The statement underscores that the identity of citizens is a strategic asset, necessitating high priority on security and sovereignty by the government.

MKN further detailed that the regulation of identity services is governed through a comprehensive framework that includes legal, financial, governance, and security dimensions. The government is committed to examining and implementing proactive strategies to safeguard the identity and sovereignty of its citizens.

The MKN emphasized that these strategies should ensure optimal value for each ringgit spent. Additionally, the government remains dedicated to ensuring that all stakeholders continue to enhance the safety and reliability of services provided to the public.

In a related development, NexG Bhd had assessed the value of its fully-owned subsidiary, DTSB, at approximately RM7.5 billion following a government request for an indicative price for a possible acquisition. DTSB is responsible for producing MyKad and has been a vendor for Malaysian passports in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards since 2012. The company also holds the mandate for new identity structures such as MyTentera and MyPOCA, with ongoing supply commitments.