The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) held a press conference earlier today to provide further clarification on the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) initiative. This follows a report published last Friday by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), which the commission described as a complete misconception.

The article, which cited anonymous sources, alleged that MCMC had instructed local telcos – also known as Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) – to hand over specific data that could be easily misconstrued as personal or private. MCMC refuted the claims, asserting that the data requested is strictly anonymised and contains no Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Mandate And Timeline Of Implementation

Pitched as the “Projek Data Raya Nasional: Mobile Phone Data” by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) and led by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, the initiative was formally approved by the Cabinet in April 2023. The first MPD committee meeting, chaired by the Ministry of Communications, was then held in October of the same year. Full-scale preparation of the initiative only began in January 2025, with data collection and processing for the first quarter expected to conclude between May and June this year.

What Data Is Actually Collected?

According to MCMC, the MPD initiative collects eight specific types of anonymised data. These include anonymised subscriber identifiers, unique device IDs, the type of service used (ranging from 2G to 5G), the latitude and longitude of telco towers, as well as the date and time of interactions between mobile devices and the towers. A sample shown during the press conference confirmed that no PII, such as identification numbers, names or phone numbers, is included in the collected data.

Assurances On Privacy and Legal Compliance

Doubling down on its assurance of user privacy and security, MCMC noted that it had strictly requested MNOs to only provide anonymised MPDs, ensuring that no individual subscriber can be identified throughout the process. So much so that it also offered them two options for data handling and privacy safeguards:

• Option A: MNOs process MPDs within their own secure infrastructure and submit only anonymised, aggregated outputs (e.g. total mobile counts) to MCMC.
• Option B: For MNOs without in-house capabilities, anonymised data is securely transferred to MCMC for processing.

It assured that no third parties are involved in either scenario. MCMC also confirmed that CelcomDigi, Maxis, and U Mobile have opted for Option A.

Purpose Of MPD

Once processed, MPDs are handed over to DOSM, which uses the data solely to generate official statistics. As the authorised entity, only the commission can legally supply this data to the department.

Echoing MCMC’s earlier statements, DOSM senior director Jamaliah Jaafar clarified that MPDs will support evidence-based policymaking in sectors like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and tourism. For ICT, the data enables detailed metrics such as mobile broadband penetration down to mukim and local authority levels. For tourism, it provides indicators including domestic travel patterns and visitor volumes.

MCMC commissioner Derek John Fernandez emphasised that the sharing of anonymised MPDs is not new, nor does it violate the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2010. He added that similar practices are already in place in over 50 countries, and the initiative is endorsed by international bodies such as the United Nations (UN), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Bank.

No Opt-Out Option Available

Meanwhile, MCMC deputy managing director Zurkarnain Yasin described the MPD initiative as part of the government’s push towards digital transformation through big data analytics – a significant improvement over traditional methods like surveys and census exercises, which could take years to complete.

When asked if users can opt out of MPD collection, Zurkarnain stated that the initiative is a Cabinet-level decision and forms part of regulatory requirements for MNOs. In short, the answer is no.

Public Awareness Of MPD Initiative Was Planned

Last but not least, MCMC and DOSM explained that the MPD initiative was originally intended to be formally announced to the public once the pilot phase was underway and all data governance frameworks were fully in place. However, this stage has not yet been reached, as a sufficient volume of MPDs has yet to be collected. Despite recent media attention, MCMC reiterated that the initiative will proceed as planned.

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