KUALA LUMPUR: The government must respond to public concerns with transparency rather than resort to punitive measures against those who raise legitimate questions, says Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
The MCA deputy president was referring to the investigation launched against Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun after she posted a TikTok video on June 7 questioning if the government, via telecommunications companies, is collecting personal mobile data for surveillance purposes.
“This shouldn’t be a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ situation,” Dr Mah said, stressing that Wong’s concerns reflect growing unease among Malaysians over the lack of clarity on how personal data is being handled and whether consent is truly respected.
He said the issue should be addressed with facts, not fear.
“A healthy, confident government does not punish those who raise questions," said Dr Mah in a statement on Tuesday (June 17).
"Democracy means tolerating uncomfortable questions and opposing views,” he added.
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Dr Mah said Wong’s queries were neither baseless nor conspiratorial, but instead raised valid concerns about data transparency, especially in an age of digital transformation and open data initiatives.
He criticised the authorities’ frequent use of Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, originally intended to curb misuse of network services—saying it has become a habitual tool to silence voices of public interest.
“What truly deserves scrutiny is not Wong’s video, but whether the government is collecting personal data without consent,” he said.
Also read: Dr Wee questions probe against MCA youth leader over mobile data criticism
MCA, he stressed, is not advocating for unregulated speech, but for a government that holds itself to a higher standard of openness and accountability.
“If the government has nothing to hide, it can answer the question by not criminalising the inquiry," added Dr Mah
