This is as the country has enter the endemic phase and the feature has become obsolete

by FAYYADH JAAFAR / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

MANY MySejahtera users are questioning the relevance of the app’s check-in feature, arguing that it should be done away with since the country has entered endemicity.

They described this feature as counterproductive and an inconvenience, and may create unnecessary bureaucracy.

However, some believed that the check-in requirement remains important because it helps facilitate contact tracing.

Although the National Security Council maintained its stance that the MySejahtera check-in is required in combating the spread of Covid-19, the sentiment that the feature has become obsolete is prevalent.

Facebook user Magen As Paya, on the Health Ministry’s page, commented: “I haven’t checked in since April 14. So far, there are no issues. It is a waste of time.”

Other users shared this sentiment and questioned the reason behind having to check in every day if the pandemic phase had ended and claimed that the requirement was a form of surveillance that violated human rights.

Some also raised the issue of data breaches, especially as the data ownership is unclear. They pointed out that personal information collected through MySejahtera can easily be used by private companies.

Several big corporate names and individuals associated with political parties became directors of MySJ Sdn Bhd, as revealed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is investigating the award of these government contracts to the company.

As contracts are awarded through direct negotiations to MySJ, many users are concerned that the government may be giving away national resources to foreign entities.

PAC’s investigation is also to find out whether there are parties making undeserved profits as well as issues on national security following the alleged involvement of Singaporean companies.

With 38 million users’ records in the app’s database, Centre for Market Education CEO Dr Carmelo Ferlito said the vocal support of the public in rejecting MySejahtera is a good sign.

He added that to believe MySejahtera has a function in controlling the virus is, at best, naive.

“It is good to see this bottom-up process of abandoning the use of the application.

“It is a small revolution which gives hope to people of getting back their lives after two years of expropriation,” Ferlito told The Malaysian Reserve.

Meanwhile, the PAC’s report on the development and procurement of MySejahtera will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in July.

Its chairman Wong Kah Woh said PAC also called on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to allow the report to be debated by MPs for at least one day during the Parliament sitting.

“We also propose that the government takes into account the PAC’s views in the report as well as the MPs’ debates before deciding on the financial implications in the issue of the application development,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Wong stressed that PAC will examine all the evidence, documents and minutes of meetings, and will decide whether to summon further witnesses.