A social media post over an unpaid phone bill has triggered a data-protection investigation in Malaysia, after one of the country’s most recognisable influencers questioned how a stranger obtained details from his telecoms account.
The episode involving Khairul Amin Kamarulzaman, better known as Khairul Aming, has raised uncomfortable questions for telcos about how tightly they manage customer account information and how quickly private details can be exposed when those controls fail.
Khairul posted screenshots on social media on Monday showing another user claiming that the influencer had an overdue Maxis bill of 498 ringgit (US$122), that his line could soon be barred and that digital purchases had pushed up his charges despite an advance payment of 2,000 ringgit.
The same account had allegedly revealed details linked to Khairul’s MySara government aid account before the post disappeared from social media.
Maxis has not publicly identified the person or said whether the individual was an employee, contractor or another authorised user of its systems.
“The amount is not the issue. That is my personal matter,” Khairul wrote in response. “What’s frightening is how you could know my phone bill details and then post them publicly.”
