PUTRAJAYA: The Digital Ministry today reaffirmed the government's commitment to driving Malaysia's digital transformation, calling for strategic collaboration across all agencies and departments to ensure the success of the Public Sector Data Digitalisation Policy (PPDSA).
The ministry, in a statement this morning, said cross-agency cohesion through this policy is a proactive step to ensure the national digitalisation agenda is implemented holistically and sustainably.
"The launch ceremony of the Public Sector Data Digitalisation Policy and the Expansion of the Malaysian Government Central Data Exchange (MyGDX) on Feb 10 will feature the theme 'Digital Automation through Technological Advancement' (D.A.T.A.)," the statement read.
"This serves as a clear manifestation of the government's commitment to eliminating bureaucratic pain points while enhancing the efficiency of public service delivery for all Malaysians."
The ministry added that in the effort to propel Malaysia towards developed nation status, the PPDSA has been specifically designed to address technical hurdles and the lack of uniform guidelines that have long plagued conventional operations. Manual work practices and isolated data storage have been identified as the primary causes of information inconsistency across ministries, which subsequently compromises data integrity and the quality of critical decision-making at the highest levels of government.
"This policy also establishes new standards in data governance to minimise the risk of information leaks. Beyond strengthening infrastructure, the PPDSA emphasises the capacity building of civil servants through structured digital career plans to ensure long-term system sustainability," the statement read.
"The transition from manual processes to digital automation will foster a modern work culture rooted in authentic and reliable data."
To address technical challenges within the public sector, the PPDSA establishes a systematic data-sharing framework categorised into Top Secret, Secret, Confidential, Restricted, and Open.
Translating the aspirations of the D.A.T.A. theme, information sharing through MyGDX is designed to end the practice of manual data collection and verification that has long burdened civil servants.
As of early 2026, MyGDX has shown promising performance with the participation of 81 agencies, comprising 51 provider agencies and 23 user agencies through 49 integrated systems. With a record exceeding 32 million API transactions, this platform has proven successful in facilitating the secure sharing of critical data from strategic agencies such as the Public Service Department, higher education institutions, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, and the Road Transport Department.
For data with 'Open' status, the Public Sector Open Data Portal (DTSA) via www.data.gov.my currently provides 280 high-quality datasets without compromising personal sensitivities or 3R issues (race, religion, royalty). Since September 2023, the portal has recorded an extraordinary 28 million visitors, proving the public’s high interest in government data transparency.
The implementation of the D.A.T.A. theme is set to boost the quality of public service delivery, where work process automation will drastically minimise waiting times. Through the “Once-Only” principle, Malaysians will no longer need to submit physical documents repeatedly, thanks to secure and efficient data sharing between agencies.
Furthermore, systematic data verification ensures the accurate distribution of aid and subsidies to target groups, thereby eliminating the risk of exclusion.
The security of personal information remains a top priority through a holistic protection framework aimed at building long-term public trust. Furthermore, the success of this policy paves the way for the utilisation of Agentic AI technology, supported by a workforce of competent and digitally skilled civil servants.
"This transformation is more than just automation; it is an effort to empower a more inclusive and citizen-friendly public service," the statement read.
"Through the D.A.T.A. theme, we are putting an end to the bureaucratic hurdles that have long burdened both the public and civil servants.
"Our goal is clear: a smarter, more responsive, and transparent government to build a trusted, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem for all Malaysians."