KUALA LUMPUR – The legendary Laksamana Hang Tuah once declared with unwavering conviction: "Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia" — the Malays will never vanish from the face of this earth. For centuries, this proclamation has served as a beacon of Malay resilience, a reminder that the community shall endure through trials, invasions, and the passage of time.
Yet today, in 2026, the rallying cry of their ancestors has been replaced by a far less dignified refrain: "Jangan lupa IC di pam minyak" — Don't forget your IC at the fuel pump.
One must ask: if The Legendary Brothers were around today , how would they react to a scene where an elderly Pak Cik—a man who lived through the trials of independence—must present his MyKad at every petrol station just to purchase fuel? The promise that the Malays will never vanish rings hollow when their dignity is slowly chipped away at the pump, one card tap at a time.
The Digital Paradox
The government has repeatedly championed Malaysia's digital transformation. MyKad was introduced in 2001 as one of the seven flagship applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor, a vision for a secure, unified digital platform for all Malaysians. Today, the government is finalizing a new MyKad version with enhanced security features, and the MyDigital ID initiative is positioned as the future of secure, consent-based access to government services.
Yet, for all this digital ambition, the BUDI MADANI RON95 subsidy—a policy designed to save the government between RM2.5 billion and RM4 billion annually—forces citizens to rely on a physical card at the pump. While the government claims this approach is cost-effective and inclusive, having already used MyKad to distribute aid to nine million recipients, the execution has turned a simple act into a bureaucratic hurdle.
The system requires users to tap or insert their cards, and they often have to wait for verification. This has led to queues and an administrative burden on station operators. We are seeing a bizarre phenomenon where petrol station counters have become "IC Claiming Zones," with staff acting like "JPN employees" because customers keep forgetting their identity cards at the pumps. This is the reality of a policy that was rolled out without proper simulation of its daily impact on the people it is meant to serve.
A Question of Sincerity
The government itself acknowledges that MyKad is evolving. A new version with QR-code verification, advanced chips, and stronger encryption is planned for rollout starting June 2026. The current MyKad, while supporting various government transactions, is "not fully digital." The government is also considering biometric verification and facial recognition to improve security.
Given this trajectory, why does a daily necessity like fuel purchase still require a physical card tap? The government has the infrastructure to link subsidy eligibility to verified citizen data—income, household, and vehicle ownership—directly to aid distribution. Cybersecurity experts have warned that the existing MyKad infrastructure is "relatively secure, but not without vulnerabilities," and that real-time or near real-time verification is essential to prevent abuse.
If Malaysia is truly pioneering the smart ID card, the physical act of furnishing a physical IvD for a national subsidy calls into question the sincerity of the government's digital policy. Are we moving forward, or are we stuck in a bureaucratic past?
Where is the Benteng?
This brings us to the core of this editorial. As the leading party for the Malays and Bumiputera, UMNO must be held accountable for this situation.
UMNO has repeatedly declared its "red lines": the special rights of the Malays and Bumiputera, the sanctity of Islam, and the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers. They have pledged to be the "anchor" of the government, ensuring that "no extreme policies" are passed that would “harm the Malays.”
This is the moment to prove that rhetoric is not just talk. The "Malay Agenda" is not just about economic distribution or land rights; it is about the basic dignity of the Malay citizen.
The current petrol subsidy mechanism forces Malaysians to prove their citizenship daily. It assumes the citizen is a criminal or a foreigner until they prove otherwise by handing over their IC. This is a dehumanizing process that strikes at the heart of national identity and security.
A Better Way Forward
It is insufficient for UMNO to merely nod approvingly of subsidies , but it is imperative to examine the implementation processes of a policy. The party must act as the check-and-balance it claims to be.
· Digital Integration: The government should accelerate the integration of MyDigital ID with subsidy programs, allowing for secure digital verification via mobile apps without the need for physical card taps at the pump.
· Cash Rebates: Consider cash rebates or direct transfers to qualified accounts—a method that is simpler and lower risk than daily IC verification.
· Address Data Security: The government must address data security and the digital divide, ensuring offline access via post offices or mobile counters for rural and elderly populations.
Conclusion
To the leadership of UMNO: This is your watershed moment. The party that once stood as the benteng for the Malay people cannot remain silent while a Pak Cik is treated with suspicion at the pumps.
The contradiction between Malaysia's digital ambition and the physical MyKad requirement for a daily necessity is a policy failure that undermines public trust. We call upon UMNO to raise this issue not just as a political gesture, but as a fundamental defense of Malay rights and national security.
Hang Tuah declared that the Malays would never vanish. But in 2026, we have reduced that mighty proclamation to a reminder at the petrol pump: “Jangan lupa IC.”
The nation is watching. The rakyat is waiting.
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Dr Kavesh (kaveshdr@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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