THE National Registration Department (NRD) will be introducing a new version of birth certificates with new security features next year, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said. 

Speaking at a press conference after launching the new design of the document in conjunction with the National Registration Day 2022 in Putrajaya, Hamzah said the latest security features will include a watermark to prevent forgery, as well as different types of paper and ink for printing. 

“When the document is presented before us, we will know if it is authentic,” he said. 

Hamzah said the new birth certificates will only be issued to children born in 2023 onwards, and that existing birth certificates can still be used and need not be changed. 

The NRD in a statement said a total of 38 documents, including birth and marriage certificates, will be upgraded starting next year, especially in terms of security features, to maintain the authenticity of the documents. – Bernama, October 17, 2022.