The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has released a Covid-19 contact tracing app, Gerak Malaysia.
The app is designed to help the authorities in tracing and analysing users’ movement nationwide to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The reason for the app is given when you first launch it: “Since Covid-19 can be easily transmitted by being close to infected individuals, thus this movement app will be a valuable tool for the Ministry of Health to protect you and your loved ones.”
The app requires personal details, including the user’s full name, MyKad or passport number, residential address and email. Users also have to give permission to track their location at all times via the phone’s GPS.
Gerak Malaysia will generate a unique QR code for the user, which most likely will be used at some point to allow travel, as the Terms and Conditions says: “To facilitate Users with the authorised travel document during the period of movement control order (MCO).”
Gerak Malaysia is still in Beta and doesn’t appear to have other functions at the moment though the Terms and Conditions mentions other features, most likely to be released in the future:
- To allow Users to make any emergency request, including food support and prescription of medication, which shall be subject to terms and conditions as may be determined by the relevant parties involved; and
- To provide updates on any extended MCO features, news and statistics whenever made available from the relevant authorities.
MCMC also denies any liability for damage or loss due to the app, and that medical treatment shall not be delivered through the app but only through an authorised medical entity.
It stated that the personal data is only intended to be used up to six months after the expiry of the MCO, and any commercial use is strictly prohibited.
The app is solely owned by MCMC on behalf of the government and it assured that it is committed to protecting users’ personal data.
Gerak Malaysia is available for both iOS and Android users. To sign up, users have to input and verify their mobile number via OTP (one-time password). – The Star