In case you missed it, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has requested mobile phone call data from telco companies in Malaysia. This has caused a controversy, as an invasion of the privacy of users. Below are all the official responses from CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Telekom Malaysia.
CelcomDigi
"CelcomDigi upholds the highest standards in protecting customer data, with full focus on safeguarding the trust that customers have placed in us. We have put in place data governance policies and processes built on strict adherence to the Communications and Multimedia Act, the Personal Data Protection Act and all applicable regulations. We continuously conduct comprehensive reviews of privacy and data protection compliance across the company to drive constant improvements, align with best practices, and stay abreast with new and emerging legislation. All matters regarding the use of customer data receive adequate Management oversight under the accountability of our Data Protection Officer and are regularly reported to the Board of Directors."
"We note the ongoing discussion and public queries on the Mobile Phone Data initiative by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. CelcomDigi continues to work intently with MCMC to support the government’s initiatives without compromising the integrity of customer data. We have been in close discussions both directly with the Commission and as part of wider industry deliberations for strong governance in the analysis of customers’ personal data, and we will continue to ensure adequate processes and controls remain in place. When required, CelcomDigi will process requested data within our own secure environments and provide a limited sample on relevant fields comprising anonymised and aggregated output to the Commission. At all times, we will operate under tight security protocols and in compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations, with stringent limitations on any personal identifiable information."
Maxis
"Maxis refers to the media statement by the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on 6 June 2025 regarding Mobile Phone Data collection. As a responsible Mobile Network Operator (MNO), Maxis places the utmost priority on data privacy and security."
"For this initiative as requested by MCMC, there is no access to, processing of, or sharing of personally identifiable information at any stage. All data is anonymised by Maxis and processed in an aggregated manner within a secure environment, in full compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA)."
"Controls and processes are in place to ensure customers' personal data will not be compromised. Maxis remains fully committed to protecting the data of all our customers."
U Mobile
"In response to Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) statement dated 6 June 2025 on the use of mobile phone data (MPD) for official statistical purposes, U Mobile affirms that the privacy and protection of our customers’ data is a top priority."
"We are aware of the objectives of the initiative and are committed to working with MCMC in a manner that upholds the highest standards of data governance. U Mobile has established policies and processes to ensure that any data shared is strictly anonymised, aggregated, and handled in compliance with all applicable data protection laws and regulations."
"When we do share the MPD, at no point will Personally Identifiable Information (PII) be shared or processed."
"U Mobile remains committed to safeguarding customer privacy and ensuring full regulatory compliance in all aspects of data management."
TM
"With reference to the media statement issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on 6 June 2025, TM wishes to clarify that the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) submitted to MCMC is fully anonymised and does not contain any personally identifiable information."
"The submission of this data is carried out under strict governance and security protocols, with full compliance to applicable company policies as well as national laws and regulatory requirements."
"TM remains fully committed to safeguarding the safety and privacy of customer data with responsibility and integrity."
Fahmi Fadzil?clarifies that Data Request aims at Policy Enhancement, not Privacy Breach
Despite the controversy, Malaysia’s Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, has responded to recent concerns regarding MCMC requesting mobile call data from telcos. He assured the public that the initiative poses no threat to personal privacy.
He emphasised that the collected call information is strictly anonymised and aggregated, excluding any personal identifiers. The dataset focuses solely on trends, such as connection quality, user engagement levels, and the number of users in particular sub-districts, rather than individual user details.
The goal of this data collection, according to the Minister, is to bolster the official statistics gathered by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). This will in turn facilitate data-driven improvements to network infrastructure, especially in underserved areas, helping to narrow the digital divide nationwide.
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