DRIVING PPDSA REFORMS THROUGH ‘D.A.T.A.’:
DIGITAL MINISTRY COMMITTED TO ELIMINATING MANUAL BUREAUCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE’S PROSPERITY
PUTRAJAYA, 6 FEBRUARY 2026 – The Ministry of Digital today reaffirmed the government's commitment to driving the nation's digital transformation, calling for strategic collaboration across all agencies and departments to ensure the success of the Public Sector Data Digitalisation Policy (PPDSA).
Cross-agency integration through this policy is a proactive step to ensure that 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 February 10, 2026, will feature the theme “Digital Automation through Technological Advancement” (D.A.T.A.), serving as a clear manifestation of the government's commitment to eliminate bureaucratic pain points while enhancing the efficiency of public service delivery for all Malaysians.
Overcoming 'Siloed' Data Legacies and System Inefficiencies
In the effort to propel Malaysia towards developed nation status, the PPDSA has been specifically designed to address technical hurdles and the lack of standardized guidelines that have long hampered conventional operations. Manual work practices and isolated (siloed) data storage have been identified as the primary causes of information inconsistency across ministries, which consequently undermines data integrity and the quality of critical decision-making at the highest levels of government.
Strengthening Governance and National Data Security
This policy also establishes new standards in data governance to minimize the risk of information leaks. In addition to strengthening infrastructure, PPDSA emphasizes the capacity building of civil servants through structured digital career plans to ensure long-term system sustainability. The transition from manual processes to digital automation will foster a modern work culture rooted in authentic and reliable data.
MyGDX and DTSA as the National Data Exchange Engine
In the effort to propel Malaysia towards developed nation status, the public sector still faces technical challenges that require collective solutions through smart partnerships. To address these challenges, PPDSA establishes a systematic data-sharing framework categorized 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 manual data collection and verification practices that have long burdened civil servants. As of early 2026, MyGDX has shown encouraging performance with the participation of 81 agencies, comprising 51 provider agencies and 23 consumer agencies across 49 integrated systems. With a record exceeding 235 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 (JPA), higher education institutions, the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), and the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
For data classified as open, the Public Sector Open Data Portal (DTSA) via the www.data.gov.my link now provides 280 high-quality datasets without compromising personal sensitivities or 3R (Race, Religion, Royalty) issues. Since September 2023, the portal has recorded an extraordinary 28 million visitors, proving the high level of public interest in government data transparency.
Direct Benefits to the People: The "Once-Only" Principle
The application of the D.A.T.A. theme is set to bolster the quality of public service delivery, where work process automation will drastically minimize 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. More importantly, the success of this policy paves the way for the utilization of Agentic AI, supported by a workforce of competent and digitally skilled civil servants.
This transformation is not merely about automation; rather, it is an effort to empower a public service that is more inclusive and citizen-centric. Through the D.A.T.A. theme, we are putting an end to the bureaucratic hurdles that have long burdened both the people and civil servants. Our goal is clear: a smarter, more responsive, and transparent government to build a digital ecosystem that is trusted, secure, and inclusive for all Malaysians.
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Issued by:
Ministry of Digital.
