Credit Tip Off Service Sdn Bhd (Ctos) today dismissed Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas' statement that the search database company does not possess a licence.

"I do not appreciate the statement by the deputy minister. The question is irrelevant and makes little sense," said its chief executive officer Chung Tze Keong in a statement.

"There is no licensing requirement to access information in the public domain," he added.

He explained that the information obtained by his company were from gazettes, court records, newspapers, the Companies Commission of Malaysia and also government departments such as the National Registration Department.

An Utusan Malaysia report today quoted Kayveas as saying that the government had never issued a licence to Ctos to act as a search body, let alone keep private information of the public.

According to Kayveas, the government views seriously the action of banks, financial institutions and other bodies which use Ctos to obtain private information of customers.

The deputy minister also disclosed that almost one third of the 219 Members of Parliament are on the Ctos list.

National interest

However, Chung said the company has never done a complete screening of all MPs against the Ctos database.

"I don't know where he (Kayveas) got his facts or if it is correct or not. But it should not surprise anyone that MPs could have records in Ctos. MPs just like anyone can be sued or even made bankrupt if they are careless and imprudent in their financial affairs.

"But if the deputy minister's figures are correct, then it would really be in the interest of the nation to know about it (the information) as they are elected representatives of the people," he added.

Chung also said Kayveas had "missed the point" by stating that listing MPs, community and corporate leaders, could be a disservice to the country.

"It really does not matter as to how many or who is involved. We are a nation which follows the rule of law. When a party defaults, it is the right of the aggrieved party to pursue legal action. When the legal action is filed, this may be listed on Ctos.

"The government has been advocating transparency. Is this not transparency? I hope the deputy minister is not attempting to suggest that transparency should be selectively applied so that MPs, community and corporate leaders are above scrutiny?" he asked.

According to Chung, the company expressed its desire to meet Kayveas through a letter that was handed to his office this morning.

What about Bank Negara?

In a related development, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he was shocked by Kayveas' statement.

"I had this impression that when you talk about Ctos, they (the company) had approval from the government.

"Now suddenly you have a deputy minister saying, after Ctos has been operating for so many years, that 'we never gave a licence'.

"Don't tell me that they (the government didn't know that there is this Ctos system?" he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Lim asked if Ctos had been gathering the information illegally and expressed the need for regulations to protect privacy.

"I think those who have been victimised, should have the right to take legal action and demand compensation for any false information," he said.

On the same note, he also questioned the appropriateness of Bank Negara in providing a similar facility.

"If they disallow Ctos, this raises the question of whether Bank Negara can carry out this type of service," he said.

The Credit Bureau which is under the management of Bank Negara operates a database known as the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS), which serves as a reference point for banks.

The bureau was formed under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958 and has been in operation since 1982.