MCMC urged to review Digital Signature Act 1997

CYBERJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been urged to review the 20-year-old Digital Signature Act 1997 in view of the rapid changes in the current digital era.
Deputy minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Jailani Johari (pix) said a study need to be conducted by the commission to find out whether it was still relevant and acceptable in the current advanced digital development taking place in the country.
The Digital Signature Act 1997 is an Act to make provision for, and to regulate the use of, digital signatures and to provide for matters connected therewith.
There are currently three Licenced Certification Authorities appointed to carry out services related to the Act, namely Post Digicert Sdn Bhd, MSC Trustgate Sdn Bhd and Telekom Applied Business Sdn Bhd.
"The study, when carried out, must involve all the stake holders, including the three licenced certification authorities plus representation from members of the public," he told reporters at the opening of a new Pos DigiCert office, here today.
According to Jailani, the data for digital certificates in 2016 was 9.3 million compared with 8.3 million in 2015.
"With the rapid advancement in the e-Digital sector, we expect 10 million digital certification licences to be issued this year," he said.
Meanwhile, Pos Malaysia Group chief executive Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said Pos Digicert contributed about RM30 to RM40 million revenue to the company.
"We expect the figure to increase substantially due to the vast potential and advancement in e-commerce," he said.
Pos Malaysia also introduced the Pos Mobile application as an alternative service for consumers to do transactions with Pos Malaysia. — Bernama