KUALA LUMPUR: There are an estimated 43 million mobile phone user accounts in the country, including foreigners, but almost none have registered the phone's unique code for protection if lost or stolen.
The Malaysian Telecommunications Dealers Organisation reported nearly RM1 million worth of mobile phones were stolen from its members last year alone.
Its president Vincent Tan Kok Hoe revealed this, adding that many more were believed to have not been reported.
He said mobile phone owners and users failed to see the importance of noting down the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) code used by a global systems for mobile (GSM) communications networks to identify valid devices.
Anyone using a phone with the IMEI reported as stolen, will be barred from accessing that network.
“Should a mobile phone be stolen, the owner can call his network provider and instruct them to blacklist the phone using its IMEI number. This renders the phone useless on that network and other networks, irrespective whether or not the phone’s subscriber identity module (SIM) card is changed,” Tan said in an interview in conjunction with the organisation's first anniversary dinner at the Park Royal Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail.
He added that the organisation was now working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and other authorities like the police to improve security and offer better protection for mobile phone users and owners.
“We are also creating awareness among our 4,000-odd members to start educating mobile phone buyers to note down the IMEI code number so as to be prepared should their devices be lost or stolen.
“They can then register the IMEI code with MCMC for better protection,” said Tan, adding that several seminars on the matter were in the pipeline.
He urged more dealers to join the organisation so as to have a better clout in improving sales, safety and security of the business.
On another note, Tan said sales of mobile phones and devices had declined in recent months owing to the downturn in the economy and the weakening of the ringgit.
“Imported items and accessories cost more and consumers are faced with higher prices,” he said.
Meanwhile, an MCMC spokesman said the commission had implemented the Public Cellular Blocking Service (PCBS) since February 2014.
The spokesman said that with the cooperation of all telecommunication companies in the country, PCBS allowed lost or stolen mobile phones to be blocked from accessing any given mobile network.
“To facilitate the PCBS, mobile phone owners have to report to their respective telcos, providing them with the IMEI code, and they will then forward us the details.
“PCBS will then pass the info to all telcos so that a nationwide block on the said device can be effected,” said the spokesman.
He added that registration is free on PCBS' BlockMyPhone portal as the system is also linked to the authorities and trusted third parties.
It can also facilitate the return of the lost or stolen device back to users, should it be found again.