JPDP investigates data leak of UiTM applicants

PUTRAJAYA - The Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP) in investigating the personal data breach of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) applicants.

Its director-general Professor Dr Mohd Nazri Kama said JPDP has contacted UiTM for feedback regarding the data’s ownership status.

He said the department is cooperating with CyberSecurity to identify whether there was any breach under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Act 709).

"I urge for all data users to obey the principles, rules and Personal Data Protection Standards under Act 709,” he said through a statement on Thursday.

He said data users are reminded to remain vigilant and careful while processing personal data to avoid any leaks of personal data through carelessness.

On Tuesday UiTM apologised for their mistake causing the personal data of over 11,000 university applicants to leak.

UiTM through its official Twitter confirmed the link for the 11,891 applicants’ identification card (IC) numbers and e-mail addresses was no longer active as the system had been updated.