Is your privacy at risk — or is MCMC just tracking trends? What you need to know about Malaysia's mobile data project
The directive, which reportedly involves mobile call records from the first quarter of this year, was said to be for official statistical purposes.
But how exactly will the data be used — and is your personal information at risk?
Project MPD
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), under the Economy Ministry, proposed the use of MPD as a new data source for producing official national statistics.
The proposal was presented to the Cabinet on April 19, 2023, and subsequently approved.
Speaking at a media briefing today, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said that MPD has been formally recognised by the United Nations as a key big data source for strengthening official statistics.
He said it offers a powerful tool to improve the quality, timeliness, and granularity of national data.
'The global initiative highlights the pressing need to transcend into traditional statistical methods and adopt innovative data solutions, better comprehend and address societal changes while ensuring that privacy and data protection remain paramount at every stage of implementation now,' he added.
Malaysia is not the first to implement the initiative, as countries like Indonesia and Oman have already done so.
In short, instead of relying on surveys conducted every five years, the government plans to use real-time data from MPD to inform policy-making and planning — rather than basing decisions on outdated figures from the last DoSM survey.
What sort of data that MPD will provide to the government?
During the briefing, the media were informed that the MPD project will only collect eight key parameters.
These include the location of signal towers (longitude and latitude), details on local and international mobile subscriptions, and call logs.
The data will provide the government with more accurate, real-time insights to support planning and policy-making, particularly in areas such as economic activity, population movement, and infrastructure needs.
For example, MPD can highlight areas with high mobile activity, helping authorities plan for better telecommunications coverage and capacity, or even identify previously overlooked population areas that were not part of the initial planning.
Zulkarnain shared a personal experience: 'I was stuck in traffic on the highway from Malacca to USJ. My daughter was supposed to have an online meeting with her university team, but she couldn't connect.
'Once the highway was congested, the mobile signal also became overloaded. This shows how people's movement affects not just road traffic but also telecom infrastructure.'
For the ICT sector, MPD enables the production of granular statistics — such as the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration rates — at multiple administrative levels, including state, district, mukim, parliamentary constituency, state legislative assembly, and local authority areas.
In the tourism sector, the system can generate indicators like the number of visitors and domestic tourism trips.
This allows planners to identify popular destinations, particularly among foreign tourists, and improve services and infrastructure in those areas.
'So from the MPD, we can know for example how many people are visiting the Batu Caves on Monday,' Zulkarnain added.
Will your personal data also be shared?
MCMC commissioner Derek John Fernandez reiterated that mobile users' personal data won't be shared by their respective telcos to the government.
'There's only eight parameters that we want for the data. That does not include a person's identification number, address and others. In fact, we do not want the personal data. In our letter sent to telcos, we told them to 'anonymised or pseudomised' the data when submitting it,' he said.
The eight parameters collected are:
MSISDN – An anonymised subscriber identifier
Date and time of transmission
Transmitter longitude
Transmitter latitude
Data type – Such as call detail records, indicating whether it's a regular call or data usage (e.g., WhatsApp)
Service type – 3G, 4G, or 5G
MCC (Mobile Country Code) – Identifies the country of origin
Unique ID
Fernandez clarified that even the location of mobile users will not be shared — only traffic signals from mobile towers will be collected.
There are two ways for telcos to submit MPD data to MCMC:
Option A: Telcos process the data within their own secure environments. Once processing is complete, they submit only anonymised and aggregated outputs, such as the total number of mobile users, to MCMC.
Option B: For telcos without in-house processing capabilities, anonymised data is securely submitted to MCMC for processing.
According to Fernandez, most telcos opt for the first method.
Fernandez assured that MCMC stores all its data on its own premises and does not use cloud services or third-party storage.
When asked why the public was not consulted about the project, Fernandez explained that it is still in its pilot phase.
'We need to complete the pilot test first to get a clearer picture, how effective it is and how it can truly benefit us,' he said.
Cyberjaya has been identified as the first location for the pilot test and will run until 2026.
'This is the new way of survey. The digital way,' Zulkarnain said briefly in a press conference after the briefing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
13 hours ago
- The Hill
Congressional intern killed in DC shooting
A 21-year-old intern working in Rep. Ron Estes's office was shot and killed in Northwest Washington, D.C. on Monday night, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Kansas Republican confirmed. University of Massachusetts-Amherst student Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who started his Capitol Hill internship last month, is thought to have been an innocent bystander walking down the street when he was fatally shot by unidentified assailants near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. According to law enforcement officials, multiple suspects got out of a vehicle near the intersection of 7th and M streets and opened fire on a group of people at around 10:28 p.m., striking Tarpinian-Jachym, an adult female and a 16-year-old male. The other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 'I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,' Estes said in a statement requesting privacy for Tarpinian-Jachym's family. 'We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas' 4th District and the country.' Authorities have recovered the vehicle involved in the shooting, and detectives do not believe Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target of the ambush, MPD said. The police department said in a news release that it is seeking information from the public but provided no additional information about potential suspects. MPD didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for an update on the investigation on Thursday. Tarpinian-Jachym's death was the 85th homicide in D.C. this year, according to MPD's crime reporting system — down slightly from the same point a year ago. Overall, violent crime has been down about 25 percent this year compared to 2024.
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Newsweek
How US Cities Are Preparing for Potential Iran Retaliation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cities in the United States are implementing new security measures to reflect growing tensions between America and Iran. After the U.S. launched air strikes on Iranian three nuclear facilities over the weekend, some cities have bolstered its police presence, though they have maintained that these measures are cautious and not a statement of perceived threat. Why It Matters President Donald Trump on Saturday evening announced what he described as a "very successful attack" against three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The president's decision to strike those facilities came after Israel and Iran have exchanged consistent strikes since June 13. Israel had urged the U.S. to target Iran's nuclear facilities, saying that Tehran was moving close to creating a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes—not for weapons. With the U.S. now embroiling itself in the conflict, Iran has vowed to retaliate, accusing the U.S. of crossing "a very big line." Iran could pursue nuclear talks or use diplomacy as a next step. However, it could also launch attacks on military targets in the Middle East or use economic or cyberattacks to disrupt the U.S. What To Know In New York City, the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced on X, formerly Twitter, that it was "deploying additional resources to religious, cultural and diplomatic sites" in the city "out of an abundance of caution." On Sunday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X that he and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch "convened our international liaisons for a briefing to discuss the situation in the Middle East and how it affects us here at home." "Out of an abundance of caution, we have increased police presence at religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the five boroughs," he wrote. "We also continue to work with our state and federal partners to keep New Yorkers safe. I'm thinking of all the New York City families who may be affected by these developments, especially our large Persian community." In Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issued a similar statement, saying it was "actively coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to share information and monitor intelligence in order to help safeguard residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia." The MPD added: "At this time, there are no known threats to the District. However, MPD has maintained an increased presence at religious institutions across the city. We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and help keep our community safe. If you See Something, Say Something." The department said for emergencies or immediate threats, people should call 911. To report suspicious activity, it added that people should contact MPD's Real Time Crime Center at 202-727-9099, text 50411, or submit a report online at In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that while there are "no known credible threats" the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was "stepping up patrols near places of worship, community gathering spaces and other sensitive sites." She added: "We will remain vigilant in protecting our communities." A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 22. A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on June 22. AP Photo/David Smith What People Are Saying Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University, told Newsweek: "Given that one tool of Iranian warfare has been state sponsored terrorism, it makes sense to ramp up security as a precaution as this conflict unfolds." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement, per BBC News: "The Americans must receive a response to their aggression." He added: "We have always stated that we are ready to engage and negotiate within the framework of international law, but instead of accepting logic, the other side has demanded the surrender of the Iranian nation." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!! In a Sunday morning press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back when this president speaks, the world should listen and the U.S. military, we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is going to outline this morning." What Happens Next? Whether Iran responds to the U.S. strikes remains to be seen. If the country does response, Trump said on Saturday that this would provoke fresh attacks from the U.S. Meanwhile, the State Department has issued a "worldwide caution" alert for Americans traveling abroad, citing concerns about potential "demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad."
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
DOSM: Average Malaysian salary grew to RM3,332 in 2022, but disparity across sectors and skills persists
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — The average monthly salary and wages of Malaysian employees stood at RM3,332 in 2022, reflecting an annual growth rate of 3.7 per cent as compared to RM2,590 in 2015, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has revealed. According to the Economic Census 2023 Employment and Salaries & Wages Statistics report released today, those employed in the mining and quarrying sectors earned the highest monthly wages at RM9,422 in 2022 (2015: RM7,980). This was followed by the manufacturing (RM3,513), services (RM3,493), and construction (RM2,536) sectors — all reflecting steady wage growth since 2015. The agriculture sector remained the lowest-paid, with average monthly wages at RM1,827 in 2022, compared to RM1,463 in 2015. In terms of skill levels, semi-skilled workers made up the majority of full-time employees in 2022, comprising 59.8 per cent or 5.6 million of the total full-time paid workforce of 8.6 million. Skilled workers accounted for 22.3 per cent, recording a 3.1 per cent annual growth rate since 2015, while low-skilled workers made up 17.9 per cent of the workforce with a 3.5 per cent annual growth rate. Average monthly salaries for skilled workers stood at RM6,967 in 2022 (2015: RM6,277), reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.5 per cent. Semi-skilled workers earned RM2,548 in 2022 (2015: RM1,832), with a CAGR of 4.8 per cent, while low-skilled workers saw their wages rise to RM1,798 (2015: RM1,280), with a CAGR of 5 per cent. Geographically, the workforce remained heavily concentrated in Selangor, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, and Johor — which together accounted for 56 per cent of the national total in 2022. By establishment size, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) continued to dominate employment in the services sector, with 6.5 million people employed in 2022. In contrast, large enterprises employed 3.5 million people, or 34.8 per cent of the workforce. Within MSMEs, 70.2 per cent of employees were engaged in the services sector, particularly in wholesale and retail trade, as well as food and beverage subsectors. 'The salaries and wages gap between MSMEs and large enterprises in Malaysia remained substantial, reflecting structural differences in scale and productivity. 'Workers in large enterprises earned on average 47.5 per cent more than those in MSMEs. 'Average monthly salaries and wages of employees in large enterprises stood at RM4,145, compared with RM2,810 in MSMEs,' the report stated. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the report offered a clear snapshot of the nation's labour landscape. 'A deeper understanding towards labour cost and employment patterns is key to inclusive growth development and uplifting the nation's competitiveness,' he said. The full report is available on DOSM's official portal.
