The government is tightening its efforts to curb the sale and exchange of Malaysians’ personal data on the dark web and illicit websites, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The move follows growing public concern after reports revealed that sensitive information had been leaked and made accessible through platforms such as caghi.com.
In a parliamentary written reply, Gobind said several government agencies, including CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), the Department of Personal Data Protection (JPDP) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), are working together to tackle the issue. He added that CSM, through its Cyber Risk Intelligence Department, plays a central role in analysing leaked data and identifying “mal-information”, or factual data taken out of context to mislead or harm individuals.
Once they detect such information, the national Cyber999 incident response centre compiles the findings and issues alerts to NACSA, JPDP, internet service providers, and affected organisations for early response and mitigation. Gobind said these agencies are responsible for verifying the authenticity of leaked data, taking containment measures, and implementing best practices to strengthen data security.
He acknowledged that criminals have been selling Malaysians’ personal data on the dark web for years and are likely to continue doing so, posing serious risks such as financial losses, reputational damage, and reduced public trust in data protection. As part of its response, CSM maintains continuous monitoring and works closely with enforcement bodies to provide technical analysis and support.
Gobind confirmed that the MCMC has blocked access to sites such as caghi.com, while JPDP is engaging with hosting providers, content delivery networks, and international domain registrars to remove the site and other similar platforms. Meanwhile, CSM continues to provide technical assistance and advisories to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity resilience. He added that the JPDP and the police will soon hold a coordination meeting to enhance joint enforcement actions, supported by NACSA and MCMC.
“The government views this issue very seriously,” Gobind said. The Digital Minister also noted that the ministry, through CSM and JPDP, will continue to strengthen enforcement and cross-agency collaboration to ensure the continued protection of Malaysians’ personal data.
(Source: NST)
