KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): Shareholders of NexG Bhd (KL:NEXG), Malaysia’s sole supplier of passport booklets and MyKad identity cards, approved the company’s proposed name change back to Datasonic Group Bhd at its annual general meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement, NexG said the name change supports its ambitions to pursue new opportunities globally. It will take effect upon the issuance of the notice of registration of new name by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
NexG executive chairman Datuk Ishak Ismail thanked shareholders for their continued confidence and support, saying the move would reconnect the group with an established and recognised identity among its customers and partners in Malaysia and overseas, while marking the start of its next phase of growth.
“As we expand our international presence, we believe the Datasonic name provides a stronger platform for us to build on our established relationships and pursue new opportunities globally. Our focus remains on strengthening our core secure identity business, delivering our existing projects effectively and enhancing our capabilities through technology and automation,” he said.
“Moving forward, the group will remain focused on disciplined execution, operational efficiency and strengthening its position in secure identity and related technologies, while exploring opportunities to broaden its geographical presence and diversify its sources of growth,” Ishak added.
The group had operated under the Datasonic name from its founding in 1980 right through its listing in 2012, before it changed it to NexG in February 2025.
At the time, the group said the rebranding reflected its intention to become a leader in integrating next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence, across government and commercial applications.
The proposed name change back to Datasonic was approved and reserved by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) on May 8 and announced by NexG on June 25.
The move to revert to Datasonic comes months after NexG made headlines when its former chief operating officer Victor Chin was linked to allegations of a corporate mafia network involving rogue Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers and businessmen targeting companies for hostile takeovers. The allegations were denied by the MACC and its then chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Chin, however, made public announcements asserting that a corporate mafia does exist, but he was not the mastermind and instead was its victim.
An ensuing boardroom tussle led to the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of founder and group executive officer Datuk Seri Abu Hanifah Noordin Abu Hanifah, the resignation of several directors, and Ishak’s entry as the largest shareholder and new executive chairman on March 27. Abu Hanifah was subsequently redesignated deputy executive chairman while retaining his position as group chief executive officer.
Ishak currently has an indirect 23.703% stake in NexG through his interests in Raya Aviation Holdings and via his daughter Siti Nur Aishah Ishak.
At Wednesday’s AGM, shareholders also approved the re-election of all nine directors standing for re-election, including Ishak, his younger son Mohamad Tirmizi Ishak, police veteran Ramli Din, and Royce Pharma Manufacturing Sdn Bhd president and managing director Datuk Anas Alam Faizli.
Shareholders also approved the reappointment of PKF PLT as external auditors, the general mandate for the issuance and allotment of shares and the renewal of the company’s share buy-back authority.
Shares of NexG closed down one sen or 3.33% to 29 sen on Wednesday, valuing the group at RM1.06 billion.