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The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt's data collection directive sparks privacy concerns, says Dr Wee
PETALING JAYA: The government's efforts to collate detailed records of phone calls and internet usage from telecommunications firms are a violation of the people's right to their personal data, said Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong. He also said there is no need to have such detailed information for facilitating policymaking in the information, communications and technology (ICT) sector, and the tourism sector, as clarified by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). 'This is not a question of whether we trust in the current government or not. The question is, why does the government want to collect such detailed information on its citizens? 'Today, we say it's to study tourism statistics. We don't know what it'll be for tomorrow. 'You want to calculate tourists? You want to calculate active broadband users? You don't need the people's personal data. Aggregate data is enough,' Dr Wee said in a posting on his Facebook page on Saturday (June 7). It was previously reported that, according to industry sources, the government in April had ordered telcos in Malaysia to hand over detailed records of phone calls and internet logs for the first three months of this year, supposedly for the government's 'Mobile Phone Data' project. The records demanded purportedly include information about call logs, IP call records, location, latitude and longitude. It was also reported that if the telcos failed to comply, it would be considered an offence under the Communications and Multimedia Act, carrying a penalty of RM20,000 fine or six months' jail. MCMC has since explained that this move is to support evidence-based policymaking in two key sectors, i.e. the ICT and tourism sectors. The commission also stressed that the data will be anonymised before it is submitted to them and that no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' MCMC said. However, Dr Wee said anonymising the data is not enough to maintain the privacy of the users, especially in an increasingly connected world. 'If you're collecting data on who we call, how long we talk, our Internet IP, and our location, including latitude and longitude - with such consistent location data showing the exact time and day, anyone with access to this data can easily match it back to our identities. 'Our identities can be uncovered very easily,' he said. On top of that, he added, there is also data from the mobile app MySejahtera, e-wallets, CCTVs, Touch n' Go and bank records which can be cross-checked to identify someone. MCMC had also previously said they engaged extensively with all telcos over the past two years on the safe handover of the data, but Dr Wee questioned the need to threaten the telcos if this is true. 'If it is true that this is all safe and it has all been agreed upon for two years, why is there a need to threaten the telcos?' Ultimately, he said, this is not about politics but about the rights of the people. 'Our personal data is not the right of any government, whether today, tomorrow or those to come. 'When the government starts collecting such detailed data, that has already crossed the line. 'The Malaysian people must raise this issue. Our data is not a plaything.'
The Star
06-05-2025
- The Star
Three members of interstate vehicle theft syndicate shot dead in Sik
ALOR SETAR: Three suspected members of a syndicate stealing four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles were killed in a shootout at a homestay in Sik here on Thursday (May 1) morning, police said. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said a raid was carried out based on intelligence gathered on the syndicate. He said the syndicate had been active in Melaka, Selangor, Pahang and Perak and would smuggle the stolen vehicles out of the country. "We can confirm that at about 2.30am on May 1, a shootout occurred at a homestay in Taman Sejahtera, Sik, Kedah," he told a press conference at Kedah police headquarters here on Tuesday (May 6). "Acting on information related to vehicle thefts, a team of officers and personnel from the CID of Bukit Aman, with assistance from the Kedah and Melaka CID contingents, raided the premises and successfully neutralised the three suspects." ALSO READ: Syndicate targeting 4WD vehicles in Melaka, says top cop ( Comm Shuhaily said two suspects who were in one bedroom at the homestay fired multiple shots at the raiding team, causing them to return fire, critically wounding both men. He said the third suspect emerged from a room at the back of the house and charged at the team with a machete. He said one policeman was struck on his body armour and the team opened fire on the suspect. He added that all the suspects, aged 35 to 37, were killed. Comm Shuhaily said police found a black FN Belgian-made pistol and a magazine containing five rounds on the floor of the master bedroom near one suspect's hand, along with several bullet casings. He said a second black pistol, a CZ 75D Compact with a magazine containing four rounds, was found in the right hand of the second suspect, with several casings on the floor. He said the third suspect was wielding a 74cm-long machete with a black handle. He said checks found that the suspects, who were all from Negri Sembilan, had a combined total of 112 criminal and drug offences on their records. "Two suspects are also wanted for 34 vehicle thefts between them while another suspect is not on the wanted list," he added. A vehicle found parked in the homestay porch had been reported stolen in Petaling Jaya on April 26, Comm Shuhaily said. Among the items seized at the scene were 26 sets of fake number plates, seven Touch n' Go cards, one programming device, three sets of Allen keys, two tyre removal tools, a car jumper cable set, one SmartTAG and assorted tools. The syndicate is suspected of 73 vehicle thefts since 2023, with 18 committed in Melaka from January to April. Comm Shuhaily said the case has been classified under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, and Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971. Two stolen 4WD vehicles smuggled across the border were also recovered through cooperation with Thai police, he added. He said the vehicles were found in the Sabayoo district, Songkhla Province, on May 1 and four Thai nationals aged 34 to 58 were arrested as suspected couriers.
