Latest news with #ZurkarnainYasin
Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Even UN backs mobile phone data project, says MCMC
MCMC's Zurkarnain Yasin said unfounded claims about the mobile phone data initiative risks confusing the public and undermining trust in national data systems. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has clarified that the mobile phone data initiative is not intended to track or monitor individuals, as alleged by some quarters. Its deputy managing director, Zurkarnain Yasin, said the data is fully anonymised and only used in aggregate to help provide macro-level insights for national development planning. He said the project, still in its early stages, has received formal recognition from the United Nations as a key big data source to improve the quality, accuracy and timeliness of official statistics. 'This global initiative reflects the urgent need to go beyond traditional statistical methods and adopt innovative data solutions to better understand and address societal challenges,' he said in a statement to FMT. The UN has also set up a special task force involving over 50 countries and organisations, including Malaysia, to explore the use of mobile data for development. Other members include Japan, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Zurkarnain said the statistics department, which leads the project, will hold briefings with stakeholders soon. His comments came in response to concerns raised by MCA president Wee Ka Siong, who questioned whether the government's directive for telecommunication companies to share user data could violate privacy and lead to potential abuse. Some parties have gone further, accusing the government of engaging in large-scale 'spying' on citizens through the mobile phone data project. Zurkarnain dismissed these claims as baseless, saying such narratives could mislead the public and undermine efforts to develop more reliable sources of national data. 'More precise official data allows for stronger public policy planning and better service delivery,' he said. He also clarified that the data collected does not include any personal or identifiable information, with no mechanism for opting in or out, as the data is drawn from standard mobile network operations. At the technical level, Zurkarnain said the data is automatically generated when a mobile device interacts with transmission towers. He said this data is then processed and anonymised at the telco level before being submitted to the statistics department and MCMC. 'There is no transfer of raw data or user information outside the premises of mobile network operators,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
We only act on formal complaints, MCMC tells Rafizi
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission deputy managing director Zurkarnain Yasin said the regulator only acts on verified complaints in accordance with the law. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it does not act on its own initiative but only investigates cases after receiving formal complaints. This comes after Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli earlier today questioned the internet regulator and police over their response to social media comments about PKR's recent party elections. Rafizi claimed that several netizens who commented on the polls alleged that they were approached by MCMC and police officers, had their phones and SIM cards seized, and were even notified that they were under investigation, despite, in his view, posting nothing more than personal opinions. Responding to the matter, MCMC deputy managing director Zurkarnain Yasin said the commission's actions are guided by existing laws and regulatory frameworks and, thus, probes cannot be initiated arbitrarily. 'All actions taken by the MCMC must be based on verified information and are subject to legal provisions, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,' he told FMT. 'This ensures that enforcement activities are carried out fairly, transparently, and within the scope of its statutory mandate.'
