Lawyer questions proposed MyDigital ID mandate amid data leak fears

Foong Cheng Leong says breaches may still occur even though the system does not store personal data.

PETALING JAYA: A lawyer has poured cold water on the government’s proposal to make MyDigital ID registration mandatory, saying concerns over data security and personal information leaks remain unresolved.

Foong Cheng Leong, deputy chair of the Bar Council’s intellectual property committee, said although the system did not store personal data, breaches could still occur.

“The public is still traumatised by previous data leaks. No one has ever been held accountable for those incidents,” he told FMT.

He was commenting on the government’s announcement that it is considering legislation to regulate and strengthen the MyDigital ID system in the face of public scepticism.

Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the current voluntary registration model for the digital ID system was a limitation that the government was looking to address.

Foong said the government lacked the manpower to effectively handle all public complaints, unlike private sector organisations which typically establish dedicated departments for customer issues.

“If a user suffers a loss due to government negligence, it’s difficult to obtain compensation. The government is also protected under the Public Authorities Protection Act 1948,” he said.

He added that not all verification of identity should be done through MyDigital ID alone, and that Malaysians should be given the option to register through alternative digital platforms such as through electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC).