There is no issue of personal information being violated under the Selangor General Insurance Scheme (Insan), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has confirmed following recent uproar over possible abuse of data.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this is because users will still have to give authorised consent over the use of their personal data before they are officially covered under the state’s free insurance initiative.
The prime minister said this in a written parliamentary reply dated yesterday, confirming that the central bank found no offence was committed under the Financial Services Act 2013 and Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.
He was responding to a question from Perikatan Nasional’s Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin on whether action has been taken over the alleged violation for registering users without prior consent and knowledge.
Anwar explained that under Insan, eligible individuals have to register themselves via the Wavpay application to activate their insurance policy.
“This requires them to upload their selfie together with their NRIC as confirmation of them accepting the offer,” he said.
“Once this process is completed, they need to agree with Insan’s terms and conditions before they are given access to download their policy certificate.”
Anwar said by completing this process, these individuals have given consent for their personal information to be used, in order for them to be protected under the insurance scheme.
“Based on this explanation, BNM is of the opinion that violation of customers’ personal data does not arise, considering there was prior approval from users.”
Anwar’s explanation corroborates Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari’s earlier statement in August that names listed under Insan still require authorised consent from each individual before they are covered under the scheme.
Amirudin had also said only publicly available data obtained from the Election Commission were used in the registration of these individuals.
State investment arm Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, had similarly said every policy recipient must complete the identity verification process and agree to accept this protection offer, confirming that no data leakage will occur.
Insan provides free insurance coverage to all Selangor residents aged 30 days to 80 years via two types of schemes — a conventional protection provided by AmGeneral Insurance Bhd and a takaful version by Takaful Ikhlas General Bhd.
Master policies issued by AmGeneral and Takaful Ikhlas are given to Wavpay Fintech Holding Sdn Bhd as the master policy holder and service provider appointed by the Selangor government.
