Regulator probing claim personal data of millions of Malaysians stolen and sold

The claim first surfaced in an article on website Lowyat.net, which also displayed an advertisement for the sale of personal data. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM LOWYAT.NET

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police are investigating a report claiming that the personal data of millions of Malaysians was stolen and sold online.

The claim first surfaced in an article on website Lowyat.net, which also displayed an advertisement for the sale of personal data. According to the article, the data was allegedly stolen between 2012 and 2015, reported the Malay Mail Online.

In a statement issued on Friday (Oct 20), the MCMC explained that it ordered the website to remove its report titled "Personal data of millions of Malaysians up for sale, sources of breach still unknown", and the advertisement, as a preventive measure.

"MCMC together with the police are investigating reports that there are advertisements for the sale of personal data which is suspected to have been obtained illegally.

"As a preventive measure, the MCMC has asked the administrator of Lowyat.net to bring down the advertisement of the sale," MCMC said.

The regulator asked the public not to speculate on the matter until the authorities had completed their investigation."

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