He said the ministry would conduct a comprehensive study on the country’s current data ecosystem and its needs, and establish national-level policies and governance frameworks for data management.

This will include developing a standardised data format for all government agencies, assessing infrastructure capacity and data-related workforce skills, and designing a technological architecture and platform to support the data system’s development, Ugak added.

“This approach will ensure that government systems can share data more securely and efficiently, while enhancing public confidence in how government information is managed,” he said during ministerial question time in the Dewan Rakyat.

Ugak said key protocols, including the use of verified data from trusted sources and the requirement for explicit user consent, would be incorporated to ensure safe and effective integration between the national data repository and MyGov systems.

He was responding to a question from Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) on the timeline for the national data bank’s development and when it would be fully operational.

Ugak said the integration of data from various ministries and government agencies under the national data bank was expected to enhance the efficiency of public service delivery by eliminating the need for users to repeatedly submit the same information.

“At the same time, government aid will be more targeted based on accurate and up-to-date data, enabling the identification of genuine recipients and reducing leakages and overlaps in the distribution of assistance,” he said.

He said the government was also exploring the use of existing infrastructure such as the public sector data centre and MyGovNet to reduce costs and optimise resources.

“Data security controls will remain a top priority and be implemented in line with the Data Sharing Act 2025,” he said.