WELCOME SPEECH: Faculty dean, Melissa Migin delivering her welcoming speech.

EXPERT VIEWS: (left – right) Moderator – lecturer Nurul Ashiqin and speakers Foong, Teh and Lee sharing their insights on personal data protection with regards to social media.

RAPT ATTENTION: With personal data being shared electronically, participants were very interested to know their rights in that aspect.

Q&A: An interactive forum, participants were able to raise their concerns and seek expert advice from panelists.

ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: Prof Dr Teoh Kok Soo, deputy vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs and International Relations presenting a token of appreciation to speaker Teh Tai Yong.

SUCCESSFUL EVENT: Staff of the Faculty of Business and Information Science, Prof Dr Teoh and speakers in a group photo session.

KUALA LUMPUR: To raise awareness on data protection, UCSI University organised a forum themed “How to Safeguard our Personal Data”. The topic was a hit with approximately 450 participants attending the forum held at the South Wing of its Kuala Lumpur campus. 

With the advent of technology causing more personal information to be accessible electronically, there is a pressing need for more public awareness of the public’s rights in this area. The Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) came into full enforcement in 15 November 2013. The Act regulates the processing of personal data in commercial transactions and makes it illegal for commercial organisations to sell personal information or allow it to be used by third parties. All data users who had collected and processed personal data prior to this date were given a 3-month period to ensure compliance with the PDPA. 

To provide professional insights into this issue, the organisers from the Department of Management Studies under the Faculty of Business and Information Science collaborated with industry experts. Providing the information technology knowledge was Mr Foong Cheng Leong, chairman of the KL BAR Information Technology & Publication Committee. Other speakers included legal experts Mr Edwin Lee of legal firm Messrs. Christopher Lee & Co, and Mr Teh Tai Yong of Messrs. Teh Kim Teh, Salina & Co. 

The speakers addressed the issue of data protection in various fields ranging from telecommunications, property investment and banking as well as social media. 

“With their combined expertise, insights and experience, they have provided us with valuable information on the Personal Data Protection Act that directly impacts us in our daily lives,” said dean Melissa Migin.