Kuala lumpur: Telecommunications companies have been directed to provide an explanation over allegations of mass phone line registrations under individual identities, which may be misused for online scams, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi emphasized the urgency for telcos to clarify these claims and stated that he would summon the concerned telcos, requiring their CEOs to offer a comprehensive explanation by the end of the day. The minister voiced his concerns while inaugurating the 2026 National Anti-Scam Awareness Programme, attended by Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan.

Fahmi highlighted that the government has already implemented measures like MyDigital ID verification for the registration of prepaid lines, aiming to prevent the misuse of registered numbers for illicit activities. He stressed the importance of these measures in light of recent cases of misuse.

Nadzim Johan raised alarms by revealing that some telcos permit the registration of 20 to 50 telephone lines under a single name, which he believes could facilitate online scams. He shared instances where consumers were unknowingly affected, including a 70-year-old man discovering 18 lines registered to his name and another case with 400 lines under one identity.

Nadzim called for accountability from the telcos, urging the government to engage with telco CEOs to review and enhance the mechanisms that regulate the registration of multiple lines under one identity. He stressed the need for safeguards to protect consumers from becoming victims of scams due to these practices.