PETALING JAYA: It is about two weeks to the Dec 15 deadline for prepaid cellphone users to register their numbers, and about 70% have already done so.
That leaves about 30% of the 18.5 million prepaid cellphone users in the country left to be registered.
But the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) believes the job is pretty much done.
At most, it expects the registrations to hit 85% by the time the deadline arrives; with the remainder being unwanted or “dead” numbers.
A small number of users could be holding as many as two or three extra numbers each, and would not bother to register more than one of those numbers, MCMC head of corporate communications Adelina Iskandar told In.Tech.
Consequently, MCMC is also anticipating a significant reduction in the total number of prepaid cellphone numbers in the country after Dec 15, she said.
Other reasons for not registering yet could be a lack of awareness and understanding of the new requirement, particularly among rural and/or elderly Malaysians, or that prepaid cellphone users are just waiting for the last possible moment to register, Adelina said.
Prepaid cellphone numbers not registered by the deadline would be suspended or terminated, MCMC has said.
It has also warned the public that it would not extend the deadline.
Originally, prepaid starter kits and top-up cards could be purchased anonymously in Malaysia — unlike postpaid numbers, for which cellular providers have always taken down customers’ IC numbers and addresses for billing purposes.
But since late last year, prompted by fears that prepaid cellphones could be used by terrorists and other criminals for nefarious purposes and be untraceable, the Government made it compulsory for prepaid users to register themselves.
The registration process requires only that the user fill in a form, and show his or her MyKad to verify the information.
After Dec 15, new prepaid users will be required to register their numbers when they buy a starter kit, in order to get the new number activated.
To raise public awareness, MCMC is continuing its programme of roadshows, which Adelina said are working well.
“The roadshows are a good avenue to reach the public at large, especially those in the rural areas that are not aware of the need to register,” she said.
“At this point, MCMC is getting more and more requests from various agencies to conduct prepaid registration exercises at their premises.
“Among others, we will be conducting such exercises at Plus Highway rest areas, immigration offices, shopping malls and Felda (Federal Land Development Authority) offices.”
Adelina said MCMC is also making it as convenient as possible for prepaid cellphone users to register their numbers.
Aside from going to the branch offices of their cellular provider, prepaid users can also register at the providers’ authorised dealers; at Shell, BHP and Petronas petrol stations; at Pos Malaysia offices; and online at Maybank 2U, CIMB and RHB Internet banking portals.
Commenting on registered prepaid users’ complaints that their cellular carriers are still spamming them with text-message reminders to register their numbers, Adelina said MCMC records show it is getting only a very small number of such complaints.
“These messages should not be considered spam, but as public service announcements and they are free of charge,” she said.