Telcos must explain alleged mass registration of phone lines under single identities by today, says Fahmi

Telecommunications companies are required to explain allegations of mass registration of phone lines under single identities, according to Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. The minister announced that the ministry will summon the CEOs of the concerned telcos to provide an explanation by the end of today. Fahmi emphasized that if the allegations are true, the telcos must be held accountable.

The government has introduced measures such as requiring MyDigital ID verification for prepaid line registration following cases of telephone numbers being misused for illicit activities. Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan reported that some telcos allow between 20 and 50 lines to be registered under a single name, raising concerns about potential misuse including online scams.

Nadzim's organization has also heard about cases involving a 70-year-old man with 18 lines registered under his name and up to 400 lines registered under a single identity. Nadzim expressed concern that if telcos allow this, it ultimately harms consumers who then become victims of scams.