KUALA LUMPUR: The government will review the suitability to incorporate provisions related to data protection in the enactment of the Omnibus Act, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the review will be considered to balance the importance of data sharing and an individual's right to the privacy of their personal data.
He also said the draft of the Act is also in the stage of establishing the main policy principles.
"The ministry acknowledges the need to protect the misuse of personal data during data sharing between relevant agencies.
"(And) even though government agencies are exempted from the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, civil servants are still subjected to the Official Secret Act 2010 and the conduct and discipline regulations.
"(Hence,) the ministry will review the suitability of provisions related to personal data protection in the (draft) bill to balance the importance of data sharing and an individual's right to their personal data," he said during the minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Gobind said this in response to William Leong Jee Keen (PH-Selayang) about whether the government intends to include provisions on the protection of personal data from being abused by the government in the Omnibus Act.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli previously announced that the government will table the Omnibus Act to allow the sharing of data between all government agencies via the Central Database Hub(Padu).
He said the Act was necessary as the Padu system is an integrated data-gathering system that is easier to manage compared to existing data-gathering systems.