Training for judges, prosecutors to keep in touch with cyber world
30th November 2001 (New Strait Times)

KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs.Judges, public prosecutors andpolice officers should undergo a training and orientation programme to help them keep abreast with the latest development in the cyber world.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said this would be necessary as the proposed Data Protection Act would be tabled next year.

He said while the prosecutors and the police could focus on the technology , the training for judges could be informative, enabling them to know the various aspects of the cyber world.

"I will be talking to the Chief Justice about it and hope to implement it next year,"he said.

Rais was speaking after delivering his keynote address at the Malaysian Draft Bill On Data Protection and Privacy seminar.

The one-day seminar was organised by the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry and Jagat Technology Sdn Bhd.

It was held to discuss the draft on the proposed Act.

Rais also said amendments may have to be made to current laws related to data protection.

Earlier, in his address, Rais said the proposed Act was necessary because current technology had raised concerns that the privacy of individuals may be compromised and abused.

"Security and privacy are also often cited as some of the main reasons for the slow uptake of electronic transactions.

He said there was also a need to respond to legislative developments in other countries in data protection or where privacy laws had been the order of the day.

"The objective is to save and avoid abuse of personal data in any transaction that may expose an individual to illegal eventualities and or economic loss."

Rais said in future, Malaysia might find itself restricted in certain cross-border trade and commercial transactions on account of not having its own personal data protection law.

He said this was because in the European Union there was a pro- hibition on flow of personal information to a country with no data protection law or no adequate legal protection.

Rais said Asean countries should forge ahead and start to move in the direction of a common data protection policy that could facilitate a regional common base and emplace common legal parameters.