A PAS Member of Parliament (MP) has called on the Government to include Jawi script on the Malaysian identity cards, both physical and digital.
Speaking during the debate on the National Registration (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat, Tumpat MP Dato’ Mumtaz Md Nawi said Jawi is part of the country’s heritage under the National Language Act and should be reflected in official ID documents.
“If we don’t defend Jawi, then who will?”
She said now is the right time to include Jawi on both physical and digital ID cards, so that a person’s full name can be properly represented, which is something Roman letters alone can’t fully capture.
“This isn’t just about sentiment. It’s about legacy, identity, security, and making our national documents more complete. Government papers have already mentioned plans for a new IC structure with biometric features,” she explained.
The Bill, meanwhile, seeks to give stronger legal recognition to MyDigital ID as a valid form of identification. It also proposes adding a new definition of biometric data and amending Section 6(2) to expand the minister’s powers in setting regulations.
“Today, if Malaysia doesn’t defend Jawi, then who else will?” she added.
“This could add value in terms of international relations”
Mumtaz said adding Jawi to both physical and digital ID cards could boost Malaysia’s image abroad, especially with Arab countries that use a similar script in their official documents.
She argued that it would strengthen Malaysia’s recognition as an Islamic nation with its own distinct identity.
Mumtaz also pointed out inconsistencies in how Jawi names are spelt across marriage certificates, religious school documents, and personal records.
“If we have one official government record, we can finally achieve consistency and uniformity,” she added.
On the identity front, Mumtaz said the issue also touches on constitutional rights, where citizens should have the choice to fill out official forms in Jawi, whether online or on paper.
She emphasised that just like Roman letters, there should also be an official record of a person’s name in Jawi, kept and certified by the National Registration Department (NRD).
“The NRD, which is in charge of registering births, deaths, and maintaining citizens’ identities, should also be the guardian of Jawi in official documents. In fact, I have verified that Singapore’s identity cards still include Jawi script. Even names like Batman Bin Superman are displayed in Jawi on their cards,” she said.
Mumtaz added that Jawi isn’t just about heritage but also about security, since its characters are more limited and harder to manipulate compared to Roman letters.
“In terms of first-tier security, this is a big advantage we shouldn’t ignore. Malaysia should take the next step in strengthening our national identity,” she stressed.
You can watch from the 2:08:38 mark:
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