PETALING JAYA: Experts have warned that Malaysia’s weakly regulated supply chain continues to fuel rampant SIM card misuse. Universiti Malaya senior lecturer in criminology Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid said that the core problem of SIM card scams is structural, not user negligence. “SIM card fraud in Malaysia stems from systemic regulatory weaknesses, poor enforcement and unsecured registration pathways that allow criminals to obtain phone lines anonymously. “Dealers also sell pre-registered SIM cards already activated under someone else’s name and may operate through subcontractors with little telco oversight. Echoing the same view, Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil said the core problem lies with those supplying illegally pre-registered SIM cards, including SIM card agents.

Source: The Star February 06, 2026 04:15 UTC