Understanding Phone Numbers in Malaysia

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Malaysia
• Country Code: +60
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview

This comprehensive guide offers an in-depth look at Malaysia's telephone numbering system, covering formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory details. It's an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators seeking accurate and current information on Malaysian phone numbers.

Number Formats

Structure of Malaysian Phone Numbers

Malaysia's phone numbers are systematically structured with a country code, national prefix, and subscriber numbers. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates these formats, aligning with ITU-T standards.

General Structure:

• Country Code: +60
• National Prefix: 0
• Subscriber Number: Varies by type (landline, mobile, toll-free, premium rate)

Detailed Number Format Table

Type	Format	Example	Regex Pattern
Landline	0X-XXXX XXXX	03-1234 5678	^0[3-9]\d{1}-\d{7}$
Mobile	01X-XXXX XXXX	012-345 6789	^01[0-9]-\d{7}$
Toll-Free	1 800-XXXXXX	1 800-123456	^1800-\d{6}$
Premium Rate	1600-XXXXXX	1600-123456	^1600-\d{6}$
Emergency	XXX	999	^\d{3}$

Landline Numbers

Landline numbers in Malaysia have the following structure:

• Format: 0X-XXXX XXXX
• Example: 03-1234 5678
• Regex Pattern: ^0[3-9]\d{1}-\d{7}$

These numbers are prefixed with a digit from 3 to 9, indicating the geographic region.

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers are structured as follows:

• Format: 01X-XXXX XXXX
• Example: 012-345 6789
• Regex Pattern: ^01[0-9]-\d{7}$

They start with 01, followed by a digit (0-9) and a 7-digit subscriber number.

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers are used for customer service and support:

• Format: 1 800-XXXXXX
• Example: 1 800-123456
• Regex Pattern: ^1800-\d{6}$

Premium Rate Numbers

Used for special services, premium rate numbers follow this format:

• Format: 1600-XXXXXX
• Example: 1600-123456
• Regex Pattern: ^1600-\d{6}$

Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers are short codes:

• Format: XXX
• Example: 999
• Regex Pattern: ^\d{3}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the full number, including the area code. Example: 03-1234 5678.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly. Example: 012-345 6789.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly. Example: 013-456 7890.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (international prefix), followed by the country code, area code (if applicable), and subscriber number. Example: 00 1 212-555 0123 (for a call to New York, USA).
• Incoming: International callers should dial +60 followed by the local number without the leading 0. Example: +60 3-1234 5678.

Number Portability

Since 2011, Malaysia has offered mobile number portability (MNP), allowing users to keep their mobile numbers when changing service providers.

Major Telecom Operators

Malaysia's key telecom operators and their number ranges include:

Operator	Prefix
Celcom Axiata Berhad	012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019
Digi Telecommunications	010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019
Maxis Communications	010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019
U Mobile Sdn Bhd	018, 019

Number Allocation and Management

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) oversees the allocation and management of phone numbers, ensuring compliance with ITU-T recommendations.

Technical Restrictions or Special Cases

Currently, Malaysia's numbering system lacks specific technical restrictions like golden numbers or number blocking, but the MCMC may implement such measures if necessary.

Technical Considerations

For developers and system administrators working with Malaysian phone numbers, consider the following:

• Validation: Use the regex patterns provided to validate phone numbers.
• Formatting: Ensure numbers are correctly formatted for user display.
• Portability: Implement checks for mobile number portability if your system interfaces with telecom services.
• Internationalization: Store numbers in E.164 format (+60 XXXXXXXXXX) for global compatibility.