Legal

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 18 April 2025

Akar Kasih (referred to in this policy as "we", "us", or "the firm") is committed to protecting the personal data of everyone who contacts us or uses our website. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Malaysia) ("PDPA").

Our registered office is at Lot 4-7, Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For any questions about this policy, you may write to us at privacy@akarkasid.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal data in the following ways:

Information you provide directly

• Your name, email address, and telephone number when you contact us via the enquiry form or by telephone
• Details of your legal matter as you choose to share them
• Communications sent to us by email or post

Information collected automatically

• Technical data such as your browser type, IP address, and the pages you visit on our website
• Cookie-related data as described in our Cookie Policy

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes, each of which rests on a lawful basis under the PDPA:

• Responding to your enquiry — We process your contact details and message to reply to you and, where appropriate, to arrange a consultation. Legal basis: your consent and the performance of a potential legal services contract.
• Providing legal services — Where you engage us, we process the personal data necessary to carry out our instructions. Legal basis: performance of a legal services agreement.
• Complying with legal obligations — We may process personal data to comply with our professional obligations under Malaysian law. Legal basis: legal obligation.
• Improving our website — Aggregated and anonymised data about how visitors use the website helps us improve it. Legal basis: our legitimate interest in maintaining a functional website.

We do not use your personal data for marketing purposes without your express consent.

3. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected:

• Enquiries that did not lead to an engagement: retained for 12 months after your last contact with us, then deleted.
• Client files: retained for a minimum of seven years after the conclusion of the matter, in accordance with our professional obligations and applicable limitation periods under Malaysian law.
• Website analytics data: retained in aggregated form. No personally identifiable analytics data is retained beyond 26 months.

4. Sharing Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share it in the following limited circumstances:

• With courts and regulatory bodies — Where required in the conduct of a legal matter on your behalf or by a legal obligation.
• With professional advisers — Including counsel, experts, or other advisers engaged in connection with your matter, only to the extent necessary and subject to confidentiality obligations.
• With IT service providers — Our document management and email systems are operated by third-party providers who process data on our behalf under data processing agreements. These providers are not permitted to use your data for their own purposes.

All sharing of client personal data outside the firm requires your consent unless it is required by law or by the conduct of your legal matter.

5. Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These measures include:

• Encrypted storage for digital client records
• Password-protected access controls on all systems holding personal data
• Physical security for paper files held on-site
• Staff training on data handling under the PDPA
• Procedures for responding to any suspected data breach

In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights, we will inform you promptly and take appropriate steps to address it.

6. Cookies

Our website uses cookies. Please read our Cookie Policy for a full explanation of the cookies we use, their purposes, and how to manage your preferences.

7. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy notice of any website you visit via a link from our site.

8. Your Rights

Under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, you have the following rights in relation to the personal data we hold about you:

• Right of access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to correction: You may ask us to correct personal data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where we process your data on the basis of your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
• Right to limit processing: In certain circumstances, you may request that we limit how we use your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please write to us at privacy@akarkasid or by post to our Jalan Pudu office. We will respond within 21 days of receiving your request.

If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal data, you may lodge a complaint with the Department of Personal Data Protection Malaysia.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data without appropriate consent, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Where changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to bring them to your attention. Continued use of the website after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@akarkasid
• Post: Akar Kasih, Lot 4-7, Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Telephone: +60 3-7268 4915 (office hours)