The Ministry of Digital Development and Information ( MDDI) should release the circular that allegedly caused the recent removal of all NRIC numbers from ACRA’s Bizfile portal, according to the Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ).
The SDP described the incident as a major slip in government responsibilities in a statement released on December 21, 2024, underlining the critical legal and safety repercussions of the event.
The conflict broke out on December 9 when the updated Bizfile site made it possible for users to conduct public searches that revealed complete NRIC numbers for business entities. After past Straits Times director Bertha Henson highlighted the problem in a Facebook post, the issue became the subject of a media discussion on December 12.
The SDP insists that the issue should not continue to be an internal discussion between the two organizations despite the fact that MDDI and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA ) have placed blame on a mistake in a circular from July 2024.
” This tragedy has severe security and legal repercussions”, SDP stated. ” Apologising and making flimsy pledges to do better in the future is completely inadequate and unacceptable,” Teo and Indranee said.
The party made reference to the guidance from the Personal Data Protection Commission ( PDPC ), which explains that NRIC numbers are permanent identifiers and pose significant risks when used improperly.
Organizations have previously been fined for handling such information, but this incident’s NRIC numbers have only been down to inadequate interagency communication.
Chia-Tern Huey Min, the head of ACRA, acknowledged the error, but stated that ACRA had contacted MDDI for explanation regarding the scope and timeline.
” Communications between the two companies were certainly sufficiently clear”, she said during a 19 December media event.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo admitted to the government’s stress caused by the incident, issuing an explanation but maintaining that NRICs, as special names, may be treated as private.
SDP discusses repercussions for trust and security.
Given Singapore’s standing as a hub for scams and scams, the SDP cautioned against the possible misuse of NRIC numbers by criminals.
According to a recent study conducted by the World Anti-Scam Alliance and ScamAdviser, Singaporean patients lose more money on average from scams than those in other nations. According to SDP, the tragedy has raised the risk of identity theft and fraud.
” The threat of such details being used by criminals may be overemphasised”, SDP stated. This disaster almost certainly will bolster that risk and further harm the nation’s popularity.
Josephine Teo and Indranee Rajah, both of whom were officials, were criticized by the SDP for addressing the issue in public for more than a month.
The presence of the group allegedly reflected a lack of command, leaving subordinates vulnerable to criticism in the workplace. ” This is not the kind of leadership Singaporeans deserve”, the group stated, calling the pause “unacceptable”.
The People’s Action Party ( PAP )’s ( SDP ) leadership has a history of mismanagement and lapses, the SDP claimed in its statement.
These include revelations that officers accessed TraceTogether information despite earlier claims of limited use, as well as the 2018 SingHealth data breach, which exposed 1.5 million people ‘ personal info in 2021.
” These are just some examples of how ignorant authority, demonstrated by PAP Ministers, has affected Singaporeans and eroded their trust in the government”, the SDP said.
Calls for complete reporting
The SDP demanded that the July 2024 round and all relevant letter from MDDI and ACRA be made public to explain how the slip occurred. The organization argued that the general public has a right to know what caused the disclosure of sensitive data and who should be held responsible.
” As public workers, members of the government and legal services are answerable to the people of this nation”, SDP stated. They may hold themselves accountable in a way that honors their duty to uphold the social contract for Singapore’s good.
The SDP even criticized the administration’s handling of previous crises, claiming that this latest example of a long line of failures that has eroded public trust. The group reiterated its need for transparency, stating that just complete disclosure of the round and communications had ensure accountability and regain confidence.
The” People” search feature on the Bizfile site has been disabled by ACRA since December 23 and will be relaunched without NRIC figures. However, MDDI and ACRA have promised increased cooperation to avoid future errors.
Despite these claims, the SDP insists that more must be done. ” The consumer may be informed of what went on and who is to be finally held accountable”, the group stated. ” Singapore deserve better”.
