Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has announced a significant shift in the approach to collecting national statistics through the use of Mobile Phone Data (MPD). This initiative aims to enhance national policy planning and development by using anonymised mobile data, ensuring that no personal information is involved.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MCMC’s deputy managing director, Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin, highlighted that MPD is a global initiative supported by international bodies such as the United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Bank, and it has been adopted by more than 50 countries. This initiative supports digital transformation in statistical collection methods, promising faster, more accurate, and comprehensive data compared to traditional survey methods, which can take years to complete.
Zurkarnain explained that MPD addresses several limitations associated with conventional survey methods, such as national censuses, which are conducted once every decade, and detailed surveys requiring time-consuming and costly face-to-face interviews. With mobile phone coverage exceeding 148 percent, MPD offers a more efficient and quicker data collection process.
The initiative, which has raised privacy concerns among users, ensures that all MPD data remains anonymous. Zurkarnain reassured the public that the data does not include personal identifiers like names, identification card numbers, addresses, or actual user locations. Instead, it references the location of transmission towers, and the MCMC does not receive any raw data. The data is anonymised by service providers, adhering to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA).
The data collection is part of a pilot initiative led by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), with plans for expansion once data security and governance protocols are in place. Public consultation will follow the pilot phase’s conclusion, aiming to produce statistical data rather than track individuals, marking a significant shift in national data collection efforts.