MCMC contractor sacked after massive data leak, Dewan Rakyat told
Communications and multimedia ministry says criminal investigation in now in the hands of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
PETALING JAYA: The government has terminated the contract of a company linked to the massive data leak of mobile phone subscribers’ personal details in 2014, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
According to Malaysiakini, a criminal investigation paper has also been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the communications and multimedia ministry said in a written reply to Fahmi Fadzil (PKR-Lembah Pantai).
Fahmi had asked how the contractor, Nuemera (M) Sdn Bhd, had failed to protect the personal data of 46.2 million mobile phone accounts and what action had been taken against the company.
In February last year, Fahmi also filed a civil suit against the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Nuemera for failing to protect the personal information of the mobile phone subscribers.
According to the written reply quoted by Malaysiakini, “on Jan 26, 2018, MCMC suspended Nuemera’s appointment as it was found that the company breached basic provisions in the contract between MCMC and Nuemera. On May 21, 2018, MCMC issued a notice to Nuemera informing it of MCMC’s decision not to renew the PCBS agreement for another five years as provided as an option in the contract agreement”.
The data leak was believed to have taken place in 2014 but only came to light last year.
However, Neumera’s contract had been questioned in 2014 by former Bukit Bintang MP Wee Choo Keong, who asked how the contract for a personal cellular blocking system was issued to a dormant company whose directors were related to an Umno minister. He said the contract would result in estimated revenue of more than RM80 million a year collected from phone companies.
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In October last year, website Lowyat.net reported the massive leak of personal details of mobile phone subscribers, but was asked by MCMC to take down the report. In January, Lowyat.net also reported another case of personal data breach which involved the personal details of around 220,000 Malaysian organ donors and their next-of-kin. The data had reportedly been leaked online since September 2016.