A steady stream of motorists has been telling the government the same thing: the digital licence is handy, but a physical driving licence card still matters, especially when you are dealing with authorities outside Malaysia.
The Ministry of Transport said that feedback is what drove its latest move on printed licences.
From Jan 23, applicants will no longer need to produce proof of overseas travel such as flight details to request a physical Malaysian driving licence (LMM).
The ministry directed the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to drop the travel-proof condition, which had effectively limited access to the printed card.
Applications for the physical licence can be made at JPJ offices and Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) counters nationwide from the same date.
Fees remain straightforward: Malaysians pay RM20 per print, while non-citizens pay RM100.
The ministry said the usual exemptions continue, covering senior citizens aged 60 and above, Class A and A1 licence holders, and OKU cardholders registered with the Social Welfare Department.
The decision also sits alongside Malaysia’s wider shift to digital documents.
The digital LMM, rolled out in February 2023, is now widely used through the MyJPJ app, which the ministry said has reached about 13 million users.
For many motorists, that is already enough for daily driving. Renewals can be handled in-app without a counter visit.
Still, the ministry signalled it accepts that the physical licence is not a relic for everyone, and that removing the travel requirement is meant to make the printed option available again without extra hoops.
