Favoriot Sembang Santai Episode 13 tackles a topic that sounds technical, yet affects everyone more than we realise: data sovereignty.
In this episode, Zura Huzali sits down with Dr. Mazlan Abbas, CEO and Co-Founder of FAVORIOT, to unpack what data sovereignty really means in simple terms. The conversation moves away from legal jargon and focuses on a basic question. Who owns our data, and who truly controls it?
The discussion highlights a reality many organisations overlook. When Malaysian data is stored overseas, it may fall under foreign laws, foreign access, and foreign risks. This becomes critical when the data involves government services, healthcare systems, utilities, or smart city infrastructure. The episode draws clear connections between data location, national resilience, and long-term digital independence.
What makes Episode 13 engaging is its grounded approach. Real examples are shared, including cloud dependencies and rising costs, as well as legal exposure under foreign regulations. The conversation also touches on ASEAN’s position as a massive data producer that rarely benefits from owning or governing that data.
The episode closes with a strong call for action. Building local platforms, supporting data localisation, and forming regional collaboration across ASEAN are framed not as isolationist moves, but as steps toward stability and self-determination. FAVORIOT itself is discussed as one local effort to keep critical IoT data within national borders.
Episode 13 is a thoughtful listen for students, startups, policymakers, and anyone building digital systems. It reminds us that data is no longer just a technical asset. It is a strategic one that shapes security, trust, and the future of innovation in Malaysia and the region.
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