“Private Number” Facility Actually Illegal, MCMC Says No More
Some telcos offer the CLIR service for an extra fee so client’s can hide their phone numbers.
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Remember those phone calls that come in with the words “Private Number” displayed on your mobile instead of the caller’s phone number?
While this is a service provided by telecommunication companies called “Calling Line Identification Restriction” or CLIR for short, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said this was in violation of the provisions in the NEAP which was issued based on the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998.
The NEAP is the Numbering And Electronic Addressing Plan which is a document to guide the public on utilisation of numbers and electronic addresses for provision of affordable services over the national infrastructure.
According to the MCMC, the NEAP document provides information, assignment, use, revocation and suspension of numbering and electronic addressing resources in line with the licensing framework.
In a statement yesterday, the commission reminded telcos to comply with subsection 3.8.1.12 of the NEAP in ensuring that all calls and SMSes display the sender’s correct phone number.
The reminder was in reference to a notice issued in March this year.
Any attempt to hide a sender’s phone number is not allowed unless it is done with permission from law enforcement agencies.
Telcos that offer CLIR as a value-added service are reminded to terminate the service immediately or latest by Friday, 30 June 2023.
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