KOTA KINABALU, 19 March 2026: Warisan Supreme Council Member Chen Ket Chuin today expressed support for concerns raised by former Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli regarding governance issues surrounding NexG Berhad, while urging a careful and objective review of how Malaysia manages its national identity and passport systems.
Chen stressed that recent developments reported in the media, including corporate changes and differing accounts from parties involved, highlight the need for clarity, transparency and institutional safeguards, rather than speculation. “It is important that all parties are given the opportunity to clarify their positions, and that due process is respected. At the same time, the situation has brought into focus a broader structural issue that deserves serious attention,” he said.
Focus on System, Not Individuals Chen emphasised that the matter should not be reduced to personalities or unverified claims, but instead viewed through the lens of governance and national interest.
“Rafizi’s concerns should be understood as a policy question — not an accusation against any individual. When a company entrusted with highly sensitive national functions is also involved in complex corporate developments, it naturally raises questions about governance, continuity and safeguards,” he said.
“This is not about assigning blame, but about ensuring that systems critical to national security are robust, insulated and beyond dispute.”
Risks of Structural Vulnerability Chen noted that large-scale concession arrangements involving billions of ringgit and long-term government contracts may, by their nature, attract heightened interest whenever there are changes in the broader environment.
“When strategic public functions are tied to commercial entities with significant contract value, it is important to ensure that strong governance frameworks are in place to prevent any perception of undue influence, conflict of interest or instability.
“When a single vendor becomes deeply embedded across multiple layers of national identity infrastructure over an extended period of time, it raises legitimate questions about concentration risk, redundancy, and overall system resilience.
“Public confidence depends not only on the integrity of the system, but also on the perception that such systems are fully secure, transparent and professionally managed,” he articulated.
Sabah’s Unique Security Context
Chen stressed that the issue carries particular weight in Sabah, given its long-standing challenges related to undocumented migrants and identity integrity.
“Sabah has faced decades of complex issues involving illegal immigrants, including concerns over the integrity of documentation. This makes it even more important that our national identity systems are managed with the highest level of credibility and control,” he said.
“For Sabah, where identity integrity has long been a politically and historically sensitive issue, even the perception of weak governance in national identity systems can have farreaching implications for public trust, social stability and the protection of our sovereignty.”
He added that ongoing sensitivities surrounding Sabah’s sovereignty and external claims further reinforce the need for absolute confidence in Malaysia’s identity management framework.
Call for Review and Stronger Safeguards
Chen called on the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive and transparent review of current arrangements, with a focus on strengthening institutional safeguards rather than reacting to isolated developments.
“The priority must be to ensure that critical sovereign functions — particularly those involving identity and citizenship — are governed by clear structures, strong oversight and accountability to the public,” he said.
He suggested that Malaysia consider a more resilient model where:
a) Core systems and sensitive data remain under firm government control, and
b) Any private sector involvement is subject to strict regulatory frameworks and national security oversight
“Public Trust Must Be Preserved”
Chen stressed that maintaining public confidence must remain the central objective.
“When it comes to MyKad and passports, the issue is ultimately about trust — trust in our institutions, our systems and our sovereignty.
“That trust must be protected through sound governance, transparency and a clear commitment to safeguarding national interests above all else,” he concluded.
CHEN KET CHUIN @ KC
SUPREME COUNCIL OF PARTY WARISAN
19th March 2026
