Data Sharing Bill 2024 to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow

The Digital Ministry’s much-awaited Data Sharing Bill 2024 will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

The proposed Bill will regulate data sharing and cloud storage among government agencies, reduce the cost of data storage and prevent the duplication of data storage in the public sector, among others.

Speaking during a press conference with the media in Parliament today, Special Select Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication chairman, Yusuf Wahab, said the proposed Bill was timely to ensure the country’s digital transformation is on the right track.

He said the proposed Bill would also improve data surveillance in the public sector.

“I had chaired a special select committee meeting on Dec 5 where we were briefed on the proposed Bill by senior officers from the Digital Ministry headed by the Deputy Secretary General (Digital Development) Ma Sivanesan Marimuthu,” said Yusuf.

“The session enabled members of the select committee (including Klang MP V. Ganabatirau and Bakri MP Tan Hong Pin) to obtain information on the rationale of the legislation from a legal and policy perspective,” he said.

“We were made to understand that the Bill is to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.”

Yusuf, who is also Tanjong Manis MP, said the Bill offered several other benefits, including the collection of data that would help the government introduce evidence-based policies

“It will also prevent duplication of data storage between agencies, which will help save time and costs,” Yusof said.

“Shared data usage through an open source platform will also help cultivate innovation and cooperation among agencies to improve service.”

“We hope the new Bill will help speed up the government’s initiatives to digitalise and analyse data to help boost the country’s digital economy,” he added.

Main image: Yusuf (centre) flanked by Ganabatirau (left) and Tan in Parliament today.