Data Sharing Bill 2024 To Strengthen Govt Collaboration, Enhance Data Governance

By Rosemarie Khoo Mohd Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The Data Sharing Bill 2024 is critical as it would enable federal government agencies to share data and strengthen the governance structure within the data-sharing ecosystem.

Information technology (IT) infrastructure and operations professional, Sarkunarajah Shanmugam, said with the passing of the bill, he foresees that the public-private collaboration would also be enhanced where there would be a well-connected data infrastructure.

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"This means that the private sector will be able to operate against a single source of proof, deliver a well-defined outcome and deliver the intended value of the public and private sector collaborations," he said during Bernama TV’s “Bernama World” programme today.

The Data Sharing Bill 2024, which was passed by Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara last month, aims to make data sharing between public sector agencies in Malaysia more secure and streamlined.

Its objective is to establish a clear source of authority to regulate and implement data-sharing laws; enhance the effectiveness of delivery by public sector agencies and improve the efficiency of data-sharing management and regulation.

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It is also intended to set up a systematic, focused governance structure within the data-sharing ecosystem. 

Sarkunarajah highlighted an important issue about who has access to data — whether it is a federal agency that owns the data, or an external entity requesting access to it.

“Properly managing access is critical in ensuring both data security and data integrity. How do we ensure data integrity throughout the lifespan of the data itself?

"Another question is data storage. How do we keep it secure and safe from bad actors," he said, adding that transparency in government agencies is crucial as people want to know where and how their information is shared. 

Sarkunarajah also said that changing the mindset and shifting the culture within federal agencies to establish trusted data sharing is an important one, especially in the context of IT infrastructure and talent availability.

While technical aspects like infrastructure development and recruiting talent may be relatively manageable, cultural change in government organisations can take time, he noted. 

“This is because the initiative would need some agencies to change or adapt to new processes and technologies, as well as training and upgrading employee skill sets.

"They need to have the confidence to share the data in a trustworthy way among the federal agencies,” Sarkunarajah emphasised. 

He also expressed optimism that there would be interest and growth in the data and data analytics talent pool in the country, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating in data-sharing initiatives. 

-- BERNAMA