A MALAYSIAN Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commissioner has defended the government’s Mobile Phone Data (MPD) programme, saying the data collected is far less personal than what is already held by major technology firms.
The Star cited MCMC commissioner Derek Fernandez saying the data sourced under the MPD initiative is strictly anonymised and does not include identifiable personal information.
“The data we request does not include names, addresses, IC numbers or phone numbers. It’s only general data,” he said, responding to criticism from privacy advocates.
“Big tech companies already have more personal data. They know where you are, what you’re buying. Isn’t that a bigger concern?” he added.
Fernandez explained that the MPD programme follows guidelines set by the International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency for information and communication technologies.
“The most important thing is that we tell the telcos not to send us personal identification. Only the Statistics Department will have access to the anonymised data for analysis and policymaking,” he said.
He cited practical applications for the data: “For example, if I want to know how many people like going to a certain place on a Friday, I can either choose to sit there and count, or check mobile phone usage.”
“We don’t have granular data on the exact location of the device, only the cell tower it is connected to,” Fernandez clarified.
During a media briefing on 9 June, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin confirmed that all mobile network operators have agreed to comply with the MPD programme.
He said the Department of Statistics would analyse the anonymised data, which will be stored at an MCMC facility for a period of three years. The pilot phase of the project is expected to run until 2026.
Telcos have since reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding customer data and privacy throughout the initiative.
Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has called on the government to proactively address potential risks associated with the programme. - June 18, 2025
