No to collecting mobile phone data

The Star

13-06-2025

Raising concern: Dr Wee (centre) together with MCA publicity bureau chairman Chan Quin Er (right) and Institute of Strategic Analysis Policy Research director Woon King Chai holding the 'Position Paper on Mobile Phone Data Collection by the MCMC' during a press conference at Wisma MCA. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
Dr Wee: Cancel move as it could lead to abuse and erosion of public trust
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's move to collect mobile phone data must be called off as it could lead to abuse and the erosion of public trust, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
He said there was no justification for authorities to demand such detailed data, which could still be exploited despite assurances that the data would be anonymised.
'Anyone with IT knowledge can misuse private data. Why should I share mine?' he told reporters at the MCA headquarters yesterday.
'I don't want to share my personal data with any government, current, future or past.'
Dr Wee raised concerns over the effectiveness of anonymisation, noting that with advanced technologies, sensitive personal information could still be revealed.
In response, he said MCA had proposed seven measures to safeguard public interest and uphold privacy rights.
'We are here to fight abuse,' he said, reaffirming the party's stance on transparency and accountability.
The proposals include ensuring anonymisation protocols are independently audited, implementing consent mechanisms and mandating public consultation.
Dr Wee also called for reforms to the Personal Data Protection Act to cover government agencies, the enforcement of data deletion timelines, an end to digital intimidation, and the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism.
It was reported that the government had instructed telecommunication companies to hand over phone call records and Internet usage logs for the first three months of this year under its 'Mobile Phone Data' project.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the data, which reportedly includes IP call records and geolocation coordinates, would be anonymised and used to support policymaking in the ICT and tourism sectors.
The commission stressed that no individual user could be identified through the data collected.
However, Dr Wee remains unconvinced.
'The government says it's for statistics. But when you read the fine print, location histories, device identification, call logs, Internet access patterns, it becomes crystal clear that this isn't just data collection.
'It's surveillance,' he said.
Dr Wee added that MCA is deeply concerned about the erosion of public trust and questioned the true purpose behind the data collection.
'They tried to explain the logic of it, but you know the explanation doesn't hold water.
'Why does the government need to know who I'm calling?' he said.
He also cited instances in which dissenting voices had been subjected to action by the authorities.
Instead of demanding intrusive data, Dr Wee said, MCMC should focus on more pressing issues such as tackling online scams and improving 5G network coverage.