Minister assures only 'anonymised' data shared through MySJ Trace

Published: Dec 26, 2021 12:47 PM

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has assured that all data sent to the Health Ministry via Bluetooth through MySejahtera's updated MySJ Trace function will be anonymised.

Khairy said the new function, introduced through a collaboration between the Health Ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, will be used for contact tracing purposes...

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has assured that all data sent to the Health Ministry via Bluetooth through MySejahtera's updated MySJ Trace function will be anonymised.

Khairy said the new function, introduced through a collaboration between the Health Ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, will be used for contact tracing purposes.

"If you have been tested positive, you can send data to @KKMPutrajaya for contact tracing to be done.

"All interaction data is anonymised," he tweeted.

"This new feature is highly encouraged when going to indoor public areas.

"The checkout feature is no longer in use," Khairy added.

Satu ciri baharu MySJ diperkenalkan dalam update terkini. ‘MySJ Trace’ menggunakan Bluetooth untuk mengesan kontak rapat yang juga mengguna ciri yang sama.

Ciri tersebut akan memberi maklumat secara ‘live’ bilangan interaksi dengan pengguna lain yang juga aktifkan MySJ Trace. pic.twitter.com/o1MdYumwvG
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) December 26, 2021

Utilising the Bluetooth function, Khairy said MySJ Trace will provide live information on interactions between close contacts, subject to access permission from the phone owner.

Without the individual's consent, MySejahtera will not give access to the Health Ministry and close contact detection activities will have to be done manually.

Privacy concerns

Responding to the minister, several users cited concerns including possible battery drainage due to the Bluetooth function being permanently turned on, and possible privacy breach.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and the Health Ministry in a joint statement yesterday said the MySJ Trace function was developed to meet the needs of the Search, Test, Trace, Isolation, Support (FTTIS) programme, which is used by the Health Ministry to control the spread of Covid-19 infection.

“The MySJ Trace application uses an ‘anonymised unique user ID’ (UUID) and does not collect user information and geo-location. This data can only be accessed by the Health Ministry and is stored in the user’s device for 14 days.

“The entire process of contact tracing and data storage also guarantees security and confidentiality," the statement added.

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