KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has assured Malaysians that the government securely holds their personal data within the digital identification system, dispelling concerns about third-party involvement.
Addressing recent worries stemming from cases of data leakage, Zahid emphasised the government's commitment to safeguarding personal information.
"The government is committed to safeguarding personal information, and in this matter, the confidentiality of personal data is a top priority for the government," he said at a signing ceremony between MYEG and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group, followed by the launch of ZCert.
Zcert will allow Chinese nationals to digitise their national ID or driving licence as a Verifiable Credential on Xianghuo International, the international gateway for China's national Public Blockchain.
Zahid also addressed that the involvement of a foreign company in any collaboration involving digitalisation will not risk the government's position as the sole handler for the Malaysians' data.
"Even though they (foreign companies) are operators (of the platform), if the government approves, there is no confirmation of which company manage the data.
"However, the government's priority is that personal data will remain the property of its stakeholders, specifically the Malaysian government, and there will be no personal information leakage to external operators," he said.
Furthermore, he added that the collaborative effort between local and international companies in developing such a system could potentially establish other innovative technologies.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) confirmed that its system, information base and website had been hacked since last Saturday (Dec 2)
In a statement, Socso said a crisis management plan was activated on the same day with its information technology and communication technology (ICT) unit mobilising a system recovery.
On July 12, Telekom Malaysia (TM) also confirmed a recent data breach involving historical Unifi customers' personal information, including name, national identification, passport number and contact details.
However, the company said no financial information was affected.