Mohd Nazri Kama Apointed As The New Chief Director Of The Personal Data Protection Department

Mohd Nazri Kama appointed new Chief Director of Personal Data Protection Department

By Digital News Asia May 12, 2023

Previously Personal Data Protection Advisor to Minister of Communications and Digital
Ministry announced they will draft amendments to Malaysia's PDPA before end of the year

Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil and the new Director General, Department of Personal Data Protection (JPDP), Mohd Nazri Kama.

The Personal Data Protection Department (PDPD) of the Ministry of Communications and Digital (MCD), Malaysia, has announced the appointment of Professor Dr. Mohd Nazri bin Kama as its new Director General. The appointment comes into effect from May 8, 2023, as Professor Dr. Nazri takes over from Mr. Mazmalek Mohamad, who retired on January 2, 2023.

Professor Dr. Nazri, aged 45, brings to the role vast expertise in Data Management, Computer System Development, and Data Analytics. His educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Software Engineering from the University of Western Australia in 2011, a Master's degree in Real-Time Software Engineering in 2003, and a Bachelor's degree in Database Management in 1999, from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

He was previously appointed as Personal Data Protection Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Digital. Nazri is also a Member of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, Visiting Fellow in Analytical Data, Malaysian Maritime Institute and Research Fund Expert Panel at the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as having served as Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Dr. Nazri's appointment comes at a critical time for data protection in Malaysia, as the Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil, announced in January that a draft amendment to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) will be presented in Parliament before the year's end, with a particular focus on enforcing mandatory notifications by companies in the event of a data breach and increasing the penalties for data misuse. A major structural change includes plans to elevate the PDPD to a statutory body to provide it with more resources and enforcement capabilities.