The action was taken based on an audit conducted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu between August and October last year.

Seventy of such compound fines worth RM3.45 million have been issued so far this year.

The number is 16% higher than 58 compound notices for RM2.9 million issued in 2019 for the same offence.

According to MCMC, registering a prepaid SIM card without verifying information of the user is an offence under Section 127 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. This can lead to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to two years or both upon conviction.

Leading the list with the most number of compound fines is Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, which was slapped with five compound fines amounting to RM250,000, followed by Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd with four compound fines for RM200,000.

Three compound fines amounting to RM150,000 were issued to U Mobile Sdn Bhd.

Tune Talk Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd were issued two compound fines for RM100,000 and RM50,000 respectively.

In the statement, MCMC said the efforts showed that the commission is strict in protecting the interests of consumers, especially in view of the escalation in the number of fraud and scam cases in the country.