Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Muhammad Mohan described the latest data leak as a “recurring” issue that highlighted the “lack of urgency in finding a solution to the problem”.

“A transparent investigation into such breaches is absolutely necessary, and the outcome of such an investigation must be shared with the rakyat,” he said.

“The Cabinet must also study what is lacking in the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and other existing legislation and discuss the findings and proposed solutions to support and strengthen the existing framework.”

He said a more robust cybersecurity system needs to be established to ensure such breaches do not recur.

It was recently reported that a dataset purportedly belonging to the National Registration Department (JPN) was being sold online. Home minister Hamzah Zainudin responded to the report, saying the dataset did not belong to JPN.

The data set is said to contain information, including the full names, IC numbers, addresses and photographs, of about 22.5 million Malaysians born between 1940 and 2004.

Bukit Aman commercial crime investigation department director Kamarudin Md Din has confirmed that police are investigating the matter.