KUALA LUMPUR – The government is examining the feasibility of implementing a data embassy in Malaysia, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
However, he said that the matter has only been introduced, and no decisions have been finalised for now.
“We will commence research (on data embassies), as several parties have given their views on the concept of data sovereignty – especially when Malaysia is becoming a centre for data processing.
“We (the government) have not made a decision yet. In the context of discussion today, this is one of the matters raised to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he told a press conference at the Digital Transformation Leader’s CxO Summit at the JW Marriott Hotel, today.
Although he described the data embassy as an interesting concept, Fahmi explained that implementing it would require it to be in line with the upcoming Cybersecurity Bill.
He also said that it would require making amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and the Omnibus Bill, which will be tabled in Parliament.
“It is important because regardless of what is requested by the industry, what’s important for Malaysia is the sovereignty of our laws, and data safety for the people,” he added.
A data embassy is a virtual data centre utilised by several nations, such as Estonia, to handle state information.
It involves a set of servers that store a nation’s data and is also under the same country’s jurisdiction, but located in another country.
For instance, the Estonian government stores its state data in Luxembourg, while still owning server resources.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said that he will be meeting the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican today to discuss details regarding the shared subscription agreement with Digital Nasional Bhd.
This includes setting a date to sign the agreement, which Fahmi hopes is in the near future. – November 22, 2023