The Malaysian Association of America (MAA) announced on September 28 that the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Malaysian National Registration Department will be facilitating the renewal process for Malaysian citizens residing in the United States who need to update their Malaysian Identity Cards (IC). This service will be available from October 7 to October 22 at the Malaysian Consulate General in New York. Appointments for the renewal must be made online in advance.
Some Malaysian expatriates living in the United States have faced challenges in renewing their Malaysian Identity Cards (IC) or Malaysian passports, including those who came to the U.S. as students under the age of 12. Since they did not have the adult MyKad identity card at the age of 12, they only possessed the Mykid identity card for children. However, Malaysian policy requires individuals aged 12 and above to obtain the MyKad in order to process their passport applications. Due to not having the MyKad, they have been unable to renew their Malaysian passports, impacting their identification in the U.S., bank account openings, air travel arrangements, and completion of FAFSA for university enrollment which necessitates using personal tax identification numbers.
The Malaysian Embassy in the U.S., Consulates General in New York and Los Angeles have announced that the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) will be accepting relevant document applications for Malaysian expatriates in the U.S. and neighboring countries at the Malaysian Consulate General in New York through the Malaysian National Registration Department (NRD), aiming to address identity verification issues for Malaysian citizens in the U.S. and neighboring regions.
Previously, the renewal of Malaysian identity cards could only be done within Malaysia and not overseas. Thanks to over 20 years of advocacy and efforts by the Malaysian Association of America, the Malaysian government is for the first time facilitating the renewal of Malaysian identity cards for expatriates overseas, resolving a historical issue that has prevented Malaysian expatriates from renewing their Malaysian identity cards for decades.
Applicants are required to bring relevant identity verification documents such as old identification cards, birth certificates, and parental identity documents.
The service will be available from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm, from October 7 to October 22 at the Malaysian Consulate General in New York located at 313 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017. Payment will be accepted in cash only.
Chairman Pang Junxiong reminds that Malaysia does not recognize dual citizenship. Malaysian citizens who have already naturalized as American citizens are not eligible to apply. The Malaysian Association of America will oversee this issue.
Individuals needing to renew their Malaysian identity cards must make an appointment online in advance via the website: https://mytemujanji.jpn.gov.my/mytemujanjipublic/. It will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and if slots are filled for a particular day, walk-ins will not be accommodated, and they will need to schedule for another time. To assist those who are unable to make online appointments or are unfamiliar with the process, the Malaysian Association of America will provide assistance in three major Chinese communities in Flushing, Chinatown, and Brooklyn. The details are as follows:
Flushing: September 30 – October 1 (11:00 am – 3:00 pm), Location: 4303 Main St. Flushing
Brooklyn: September 30 – October 15 (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm), Location: Hui Cheng Travel (5710 8th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11220)
Manhattan Chinatown: September 30 – October 3 (Monday to Thursday), Location: 76 Mott St.