By Norrasyidah Arshad and Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, Oct 10 — The state’s Special Select Committee on Competency, Accountability, and Transparency (Selcat) was told today there were no data breaches related to the Selangor General Insurance Scheme (Insan).
Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) (MBI) former chief executive officer Norita Mohd Sidek said policyholders’ data is owned by the state government, and is not subject to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA).
“We (MBI and Wavpay Fintech Holding Sdn Bhd) met with the Personal Data Protection Commissioner to get advice. We informed them that MBI’s role is to process the data, and this was accepted.
“They are satisfied and advised us to offer an option to the public whether they want to proceed (with registration). That was their suggestion, and we then updated the registration process,” she said.
Norita was testifying as one of the witnesses at Selcat’s public hearing on the implementation and direction of the state’s free insurance scheme here today.
Previously, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari denied allegations the state was using Selangor residents’ personal information without permission for Insan’s registration, with some users expressing concern over the safety of their data.
Instead, Amirudin said, the state government collaborated with the Election Commission to obtain publicly available data.
Selcat convened today to assess and address questions raised by assemblymen about the governance and implementation of the programme.
The two other witnesses at the hearing were MBI chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop and Selangor deputy secretary (development) Dato’ Johary Anuar.
Launched on October 1, 2022, Insan provides free group personal accident insurance protection to six million residents aged between 30 days and 80 years.
Separately, Norita said the state government’s decision to convert the Insan coverage from a conventional policy to a takaful one has benefited the people, particularly in terms of compensation value.
She pointed out that if a takaful policyholder dies, their beneficiaries will receive a contribution of RM11,000, compared with RM10,000 previously.
She added that the shariah-compliant coverage offers more than RM20,000 in protection for accidents abroad, as well as a claim of RM50 per day if hospitalised.
“Insan or Insan Takaful is essentially the same programme. Non-Muslims can register under the takaful scheme. The coverage is the same; only the name differs, and Insan Takaful offers better benefits.
“I see the Insan programme as a success because it provides insurance protection to all citizens,” she said.
Norita was responding to Selcat member and state opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who asked about the state’s decision to convert the scheme.
