PKR man fires questions at MCMC after data leak
In light of the largest mobile data theft in the country's history, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil has posed seven questions to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
In a statement, Fahmi also touched on Nuemera Sdn Bhd, the private company that Malaysiakini had yesterday reported of being tasked by the MCMC to manage its Public Cellular Blocking Service (PCBS).
The PCBS, launched in February 2014, was an initiative by the MCMC to provide a service that allowed stolen phones to be blocked from making calls, texting or accessing the Internet - even if the sim card is changed.
Fahmi asked on what merit was Nuemera chosen by MCMC to manage PCBS in 2014, and who was behind the process of selecting the company...
In light of the largest mobile data theft in the country's history, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil has posed seven questions to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
In a statement, Fahmi also touched on Nuemera Sdn Bhd, the private company that Malaysiakini had yesterday reported of being tasked by the MCMC to manage its Public Cellular Blocking Service (PCBS).
The PCBS, launched in February 2014, was an initiative by the MCMC to provide a service that allowed stolen phones to be blocked from making calls, texting or accessing the Internet - even if the sim card is changed.
Fahmi asked on what merit was Nuemera chosen by MCMC to manage PCBS in 2014, and who was behind the process of selecting the company.
He also wants the MCMC to reveal how much Nuemera's PCBS contract is worth, and whether the MCMC will release details of its contract with the company.
"What action has MCMC taken against the company from the point of the data leak in 2014, until it was reported in Lowyat.net on Oct 19?" he asked.
Pointing out that the leak happened in 2014 - the same year Nuemera was appointed by MCMC to manage PCBS, Fahmi added: "When did MCMC come to know about the data leak on its own, or did it only find out after the Lowyat report?"
"Lastly, what is the compensation that the MCMC, Nuemera Sdn Bhd and telco providers will give to consumers who were hit by the data breach?" Fahmi asked.
It was reported that the breach of mobile data of 48 million users, which included information from telcos, a job portal, a foreign exchange trading platform and medical associations, came to light following an attempt to sell them on the Lowyat forum on Oct 19.
Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun has since said that the police investigation is still going on and no arrest has been made.
Fahmi expressed hope that MCMC would provide answers to the questions he has put up, so that the many Malaysians hit by the data breach can finally have answers.
He also said that Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, who yesterday responded with a "no comment" when asked on the data theft, should be "proactive and open", and direct the MCMC to release a statement to respond to the scandal.
