Personal Data Act may be enforced soon

The Star
By FLORENCE A. SAMY

KUALA LUMPUR: The Personal Data Protection Act may be implemented this year after enforcement personnel and department staff have been trained, said Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“This is to ensure that all parties understand the law before it is enforced. Awareness programmes are also on-going for consumers and those in the industry,” he said after opening the new Personal Data Protection Department and awareness seminar here yesterday.

Training, he added, would be given to members of the Attorney-General's Chambers and the police. The Act was gazetted in June 2010.

Dr Rais said the Act aimed to protect people's personal data, such as bank account details, credit card information, medical history, blood type and communication details, to ensure it was not abused.

“A person is committing an offence if he keeps personal data without permission or does not abide by the seven principles in the Act,” he said, adding that offenders could face a fine of up to RM30,000 and a year's jail.

He said the new law, which complements the Communications and Multimedia Act, would help Malaysia become a leading e-commerce and communications centre.

On Thailand's move to back Twitter's controversial censorship policy, Rais said the authorities would study the developments objectively.

“If what is being done in Thailand results in something good for the nation, then we will look into it from various aspects and we will take into account legal issues and personal rights. We will also look at the importance of online transactions and communication among people,” he said.

The micro-blogging site announced recently that it had refined its technology for specific content to be withheld in a certain country but viewed elsewhere in the world.

The move has come under heavy criticism for stifling freedom of speech.

Thailand has become the first country to publicly endorse Twitter's decision.

On Pas Youth's proposed memorandum against media publicity for Valentine's Day, Dr Rais said he was ready to accept any memorandum from them.

However, he noted that Malaysia was a multi-racial country where different cultures and practices had to be respected.