Govt looking at PDPA amendments to beef up security, prevent data leakages

 

The Communications and Digital Ministry is looking into amending the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) in order to strengthen security and prevent data leakages.

Its minister Fahmi Fadzil (above) said the amendments will aim not only to strengthen personal data protection but also to ensure all organisations handling private data will be responsible for protecting their users’ information.

“For commercial transactions or security pins, (they) need to understand that if they are careless or fail to protect (such information), they will face a heavy penalty.

“Right now, it seems as if there is no sense of shame when data leakages occur and in fact, even if there is a denial (of the leakage), there is no confirmation whether that is true or not.

“So, from a legal perspective, we are working to tighten (the law) and this is very important,” he said, as reported by Harian Metro today.

Aside from the law, Fahmi said the country’s cyber security infrastructure needs to be able to ensure people’s personal data can be protected effectively.

“So far, the role of Cyber Security Malaysia (CSM) has been very effective, but at the same time, we need to see if there is a need for the agency to be given more authority or get closer cooperation from all parties, be it public or private,” he said.

Fahmi has been speaking out consistently and vocally about the issue of personal data leakages in the country as well as the need to strengthen relevant infrastructure in order to prevent such incidents, even before he became the minister.

Amendment to Finas Act

Aside from that, he said, Putrajaya will be discussing amendments to the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Finas) Act 1981 (Act 244) to prevent its members or board of directors from using their positions to direct government funds to affiliated companies.

Those on the board of directors cannot receive any grants or benefits from the agency, he added, as reported by Utusan Malaysia today.

He said after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the issue involving Finas, the minister met with the agency’s CEO and management to investigate the matter.

The decision to discuss amendments to the Finas Act was made following the release of the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report, which disclosed that RM4 million from the Digital Content Fund had been allocated to companies associated with Finas’ members.

"I am satisfied with the feedback given. Those who hold the position of a board member cannot receive any grants or benefits from Finas.

"It is not appropriate for any board member to take advantage. So, the government is discussing how to amend the Finas Act to ensure the members operate properly.

"This is in addition for them to understand the development of the film industry and at the same time, it is also a motivating factor so that they can truly contribute to the industry," Fahmi said.

This follows Subsection 14(1) of the Finas Act 1981 (Act 244) which states that individuals appointed as committee members or affiliated with Finas are not allowed to have any interests, direct or indirect, with entities engaged in the issuance, distribution and exhibition of films.

Auditor-General’s Report 2021 Series 2, which was presented in Dewan Rakyat on Feb 16, revealed that the digital content fund worth RM4 million was channelled to six companies with interests including those belonging to the board members themselves, their family members and special officers. - Mkini