Latest news with #PersonalDataProtectionAct2010
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Daily Express
Fuller probe pledge: Family's lawyers urge those with info to come forward
Published on: Thursday, August 07, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 07, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli, Cynthia D Baga Text Size: L/R: Jauteh, Hamid and Shahlan. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun has assured the public that police will conduct a comprehensive investigation into claims circulating online prior to a tragic death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir. This comes after viral posts on social media suggested that she was put inside a washing machine at her school before being placed on the drain at the hostel block. Advertisement In TikTok, a woman under a name of SHA_Abrienda claimed that the body of Zara was put inside a washing machine before being placed near the drain of SMK Agama Tun Mustapha where she was found unconscious at 3am. The woman speaking live also claimed that Zara, a school prefect, was beaten by the group of senior who were unhappy that she wrote their names for not performing prayers. Jauteh said police are aware of such speculations and are treating the matter seriously. 'We will first verify what is being said by the netizens. Let the police conduct a thorough investigation on this,' he told Daily Express when contacted, Wednesday. Advertisement Asked if the washing machine claim would be part of the investigation, he said it would be taken into account. The case has sparked widespread concern online, with many calling for a transparent and swift investigation. Police have urged the public not to speculate and to allow the investigation to proceed without interference. Zara is believed to have been bullied. She died the following day in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (July 17). Meanwhile, lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri, who represent Zara Qairina Mahathir's family, called on those with solid information to come forward and assist the police investigation into her death, rather than spread speculation in social media. 'Allow police to investigate. Have faith in them, although they made mistakes at the early stage for not conducting the post-mortem and taking the clothing worn by Zara when she was found unconscious,' they said. About the new claims, the lawyers said they did not know where the person/s got the information. They said it was definitely not from Zara's mother. The legal team also raised legal concerns over the distribution of students' photos as well as sharing of personal information and negative statements about them. They said such actions may constitute criminal offences under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001, and Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'The release of student name lists containing personal data was also deemed a breach of Section 130 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. We urge that dissemination of such content be stopped immediately. Those who have posted the materials are requested to remove them without delay,' said the lawyers. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lawyers warn public against sharing rumours on Zara Qairina's case
KOTA KINABALU: Lawyers for Noraidah Lamat, the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, have urged the public to stop speculating on the case, warning that such actions could upset the family and lead to criminal prosecution. In a joint statement, lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said those with information should pass it to the police to assist with the investigation into the death of the 13-year-old. The lawyers said a viral video of a woman claiming Zara was put into a washing machine is merely speculation. "Our client, Zara's mother, has never given such information to anyone. We appeal to the woman to provide the information to the police for the purpose of investigation," they said. Zara, a Form 1 student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, was reportedly found to have fallen from a building and was discovered near a drain at about 3am on July 16. She was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital at 1.07pm on July 17. Hamid and Shahlan also said a viral image showing a chronology that claimed Zara was only brought to the hospital at 8am on July 16 was another piece of speculation. The lawyers warned that sharing images of school students and posting negative comments about them on social media is a criminal offence under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001, and Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. They also said that disseminating name lists containing students' personal information is a criminal offence under Section 130 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. "Therefore, we urge that the circulation of the above matters on all social media platforms be stopped immediately," they said, adding that those who have engaged in such dissemination should delete the videos and images.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Stop the speculation on Zara Qairina case, lawyers urge
KOTA KINABALU: Lawyers acting on behalf of deceased student Zara Qairina Mahathir's mother are asking for speculation on the case to stop. Counsels Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said in a joint statement that rather than sharing unverified information through videos, 'narrations' and other online content, it was better to provide the police with credible information. 'First of all, we want to address a video circulating online where a woman was narrating how Zara was put into a washing machine. This is a speculation,' said Hamid. 'Our client, who is Zara's mother, never shared such information with anyone. We want the woman to provide that information to the police to investigate,' he said. Hamid said a so-called chronology of when Zara was brought to the hospital (8am on July 16) after her alleged fall from the third floor of a hostel building was also speculative. 'That chronology-like information did not come from our client,' he stressed. Secondly, circulation of pictures of students who allegedly had links to Zara's deaths, with negative statements on them, is a crime under the Children's Act 2001 and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he warned. Hamid said the spreading of names, photos and personal details of students was also an offence under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and MCMC Act 1998. 'Therefore, we urge that the spread of this information and videos be stopped immediately. 'Those who have circulated or shared such information online, we urge that you take it down immediately,' he said. Hamid said speculations would only make things worse and add more stress to the family affected. He said anyone with information pertaining to Zara's death and case is advised to provide them to the police to facilitate investigations. Zara, a Form One student, had died after she was believed to have fallen off her hostel in SMA Tun Datu Mustafa in Papar, on July 16.
The Star
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
No plans to scrap Mobile Phone Data initiative
Talking tech: Fahmi visiting one of the booths at the International Connectivity Conference Expo in Kuala Lumpur. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star PUTRAJAYA has no plans to scrap the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) initiative, as no privacy violations have occurred, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said the MPD is in line with Cabinet decisions, local laws and international standards. 'All necessary safety measures have been implemented and the government remains open to improving security mechanisms while continuously monitoring the initiative to maintain public confidence,' Fahmi said in response to Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi) who asked whether the initiative would be cancelled. Fahmi clarified that the MPD did not involve personally identifiable information and the data provided by mobile network operators (MNOs) was not classified as personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010. He also noted that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Statistics Department and MNOs held a media briefing on June 9 to explain the initiative. 'The MCMC is aware of public concerns over privacy. However, the data shared by the MNOs is aggregated statistical output, not individual data. 'These statistics are processed internally in a secure environment before being shared with the MCMC,' Fahmi said. He added that MPD provided accurate, granular and near real-time data to support policy planning in telecommunications and tourism, including a focus on Langkawi, in line with the initiative's original mandate. Earlier last month, the MCMC clarified that MNOs are only required to provide eight types of data for the MPD, none of which included names, MyKad numbers or phone numbers. Mobile station international subscriber directory numbers, unique IDs and location data such as latitude and longitude are among the data collected.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
No plans to scrap Mobile Phone Data initiative, says Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya has no plans to scrap the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) initiative because no privacy violation occurred, the Dewan Rakyat hears. Communication Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil also said the MPD was in line with the Cabinet decision, as well as local legislations and international standards. 'At the same time, all necessary safety measures have been implemented in the MPD initiative. 'The government is also always open to improving security mechanisms and it is also monitoring it from time to time to ensure public confidence,' said the Communications Ministry in a statement on Wednesday (July 30). Fahmi was responding to a question by Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, who asked if the ministry would cancel the MPD initiative. Fahmi said the MPD initiative does not involve any personally identifiable information (PII) and data provided by mobile network operators (MNO) was not classified as personal information under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010. Fahmi also said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Statistics Department and MNOs held a media briefing on June 9, where an explanation was given. 'The MCMC is aware of public concerns regarding the privacy risks that may arise from the MPD initiative. 'But, the data given by MNOs are in the form of output statistics that are aggregated and it is not individual. 'The statistics are generated from internal processing by MNOs in a safe environment before it is shared with the MCMC,' said Fahmi. Fahmi also said the benefits of the MPD were its ability to provide more accurate information that is granular and near real-time, in line with a data approach and the government's digital transformation agenda. 'The MPD initiative will be used to support policy planning and making in two main sectors - telecommunications and tourism, including a focal point in Langkawi, in line with the original mandate of this initiative,' added Fahmi. Early last month, the MCMC said MNOs are only required to provide eight types of data in the MPD collection initiative. No personally identifiable information, such as IC number, name or phone number, is collected. Among the data collected under the MPD initiative were mobile station international subscriber directory numbers (MSISDNs), unique ID, and the longitude and latitude data of telco providers.
