Malaysia’s government is moving to tie its MyDigital ID platform more closely to mobile networks, aiming to use the national digital identity system as a tool against fraudulent calls and SIM-based scams. According to recent briefings reported in the local press, the Ministry of Communications and the national identity agency are working with major telcos on a framework that will connect MyDigital ID with SIM registration and number assignment, initially for new subscriptions and later potentially for re-registration.
Officials have suggested that, in the longer term, linking verified digital identity to phone numbers could help weed out "scam lines" by making it harder to maintain anonymous or poorly documented subscriptions. The move comes amid continuing public concern about phishing calls and cross-border fraud operations that rely on loosely controlled SIM issuance. At the same time, the government has indicated that the MyDigital ID credential will be voluntary and free, with incentives rather than mandates expected to drive adoption.
Civil society groups and some commentators are already raising questions about privacy and proportionality, given the potential for tighter identity-telecoms linkage to expand surveillance capabilities. Authorities have stressed that the digital ID is designed with security and data protection in mind, and that detailed implementation rules will be subject to further consultation. For now, the policy trajectory suggests MyDigital ID is being positioned not only as a login and e-government credential, but also as a key instrument in Malaysia’s wider anti-fraud strategy.
The initiative builds on recent momentum for MyDigital ID, which recently surpassed 2.8 million registrations as of Q2 2025 and became mandatory for driver services through the MyJPJ app in late 2024. Meanwhile, Maxis has launched its own Mobile Identity solution to strengthen telco-based verification.
Sources: SoyaCincau, New Straits Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
