THE government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has been urged to impose heavier penalties on telecommunications companies (telcos) that fail to curb phone and messaging scams, which have become what consumer advocates describe as a “silent epidemic” in society.
Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist, Datuk Nadzim Johan, said stern measures were needed to ensure telcos take greater responsibility and tighten their registration procedures, which are often exploited by scam syndicates.
“The failure of telcos to properly monitor phone number registrations has given scammers the freedom to operate, even using foreign numbers without proper verification,” he said in an interview with Sinar Harian recently.
“If telcos allow SIM card registration without proper verification, they should be fined up to RM50,000. Only then will they take this matter seriously. Right now, even unregistered foreign numbers can be used easily — that’s why scammers find it so easy to operate. I urge MCMC to ensure telcos comply fully,” he added.
Nadzim said weaknesses in the telecommunications system and lax user identity checks have made enforcement difficult.
He called for a coordinated approach between MCMC, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to combat scam activities effectively.
“If all these agencies unite and act before the scammers strike, we can stop this menace. If action is only taken after victims come forward, it will always be too late,” he said.
He also urged MCMC and PDRM to adopt a more proactive and aggressive stance in addressing telecommunications-related fraud, which he described as increasingly alarming.
“MCMC must be more proactive and not wait for reports before taking action. Suspicious numbers should be immediately blocked, but action is often taken only after a case has already occurred,” he said.
Nadzim warned that the current reactive approach has left many victims losing their life savings and becoming repeat targets of scam operations.
He noted that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, employing artificial intelligence (AI), multiple communication platforms and international calls to deceive victims.
“The impact on victims is devastating — some have even contemplated suicide. Many have lost their retirement savings and can no longer work due to age. Some scams start small, with victims losing RM500, but dozens fall prey in a single day,” he said.
He added that most victims are retired civil servants and senior citizens, who are often easily deceived by fake calls claiming to be from banks or authorities.
“Young people are targeted too, but the majority are pensioners and older citizens. They’ve just retired, they have savings, and they tend to trust easily. The real question is — how do scammers know they have large sums of money?” he asked. - October 27, 2025
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