Various quarters welcome the government to bar credit reference agencies from keeping personal data without permission.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) adviser Mohd Hamdan Adnan said companies that keep personal data should delete them.     

"It is strange how they (credit reference agencies) know our addresses and personal data although we have never dealt with them. This is a cause for concern on individual security," he added.    

He was commenting on the proposed creation of a commission under the Personal Data Protection Act 2009 by January next year which is aimed at regulating the processing of the personal data of individuals.     

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) executive secretary Nadzim Johan said rampant use of personal data without the knowledge of individuals violated the Privacy Law.     

"If left unprotected, personal data can be misused by irresponsible elements," he added.    

Transport Workers Union (TWU) secretary-general Zainal Rampak said only the government was entitled to keep personal data while private companies could only obtain them after seeking permission from the government.     

"Personal data are privileged information and they could be misused if they fall into wrong hands," he added.  

- Bernama