Bulk SMS in Malaysia is among the most restricted in Asia as of 2026: every message must start with "RM0.00" and name the brand, and since September 2024 SMS containing URLs, phone numbers or requests for personal details are blocked on all networks. VoIP in Malaysia is licensed by the MCMC, which since early 2026 runs an inter-operator gateway that blocks spoofed calls.
Rules last checked: October 2026.
Bulk SMS in Malaysia: sender ID rules
| Sender type | Status in Malaysia as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alphanumeric (international) | Not supported; overwritten with an operator-approved numeric sender |
| Alphanumeric (domestic, pre-registered) | Possible through local registration, about two weeks |
| Malaysian long code | Person-to-person use only, with daily caps; not for A2P |
| Short code | Offered by operators to local businesses |
Because the sender is usually replaced by a number, recipients recognise you by the content, which is why brand naming is mandatory. See SMS sender ID types.
Malaysia SMS content rules: RM0.00, URLs and phone numbers
- RM0.00 prefix: each message must start with "RM0.00" to show it is free to the recipient; without it the message may be truncated or fail.
- Brand name: the company or brand must appear in the text; generic messages are rejected.
- No URLs, phone numbers or personal data requests: after an MCMC directive in 2023, operators block SMS that contain links, phone numbers or ask for personal information. The exemption for registered short codes ended in September 2024, so the block now applies to everyone, including users roaming abroad.
- Marketing hours: promotional SMS is not allowed between 20:00 and 08:00.
- Prohibited topics: gambling, adult content, loans, political and religious content, firearms, controlled substances and alcohol.
Banks have largely moved customers from SMS OTP to app-based authentication under central bank guidance, so banking OTP over SMS is restricted. Plan a fallback for verification flows: OTP fallback to voice or WhatsApp. More in SMS content restrictions.
Malaysian mobile networks
The networks are CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Unifi Mobile and Yes. Mobile numbers start with 01 (011 to 019). Concatenated messages are not joined on part of the CelcomDigi network and arrive as separate SMS, so keep messages to one part where possible (concatenated long SMS).
VoIP in Malaysia: licensing and numbering
VoIP is legal in Malaysia for licensed providers. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) licenses network facilities, network services and application services under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and manages numbering. Geographic numbers start with 0 plus an area code (03 Kuala Lumpur and Selangor), mobile numbers with 01, and freephone with 1-800. Mobile and fixed are priced separately on rate decks (mobile termination rates).
CLI and anti-spoofing measures in Malaysia
Since the start of 2026, the MCMC and the operators run the Inter Operator Spoofing Gateway, which blocks calls from abroad that spoof Malaysian numbers. It blocked 101.66 million spoof calls between February and August 2026. Operators such as Maxis also stop messages that claim to come from Malaysian mobile or fixed numbers but arrive over international routes.
For buyers: a Malaysian CLI on international traffic will not reach the user. Present a number you are entitled to use, and expect KYC and traffic-type questions from any provider with clean Malaysian routes. See CLI spoofing rules and CLI vs non-CLI routes.
What buyers ask for on Malaysian routes
- Fixed and mobile rates per operator, ASR and ACD.
- How the CLI is presented after the spoofing gateway checks.
- For SMS: whether the route adds RM0.00 automatically, how the sender is presented, and delivery reports per network.
Check coverage on the Malaysia VoIP destination page and the Malaysia SMS destination page, or read about our VoIP termination and A2P SMS routes. VoIPMatcher sources the route from its carriers and manages it; buyers and sellers never see each other. Request a Malaysia voice route or request a Malaysia SMS route.
Frequently asked questions
Why do SMS in Malaysia start with RM0.00?
Malaysian operators require A2P messages to start with RM0.00 to show the recipient that the message costs them nothing. Messages without it can be truncated or rejected, and some providers add it automatically. Count the seven extra characters when you plan message length.
Can I send links in SMS to Malaysia?
No. Following an MCMC directive, Malaysian operators block SMS that contain URLs, phone numbers or requests for personal information. The exemption for registered short codes ended in September 2024, so the block applies to all senders. Send links through an app, email or a messaging channel instead.
Is there an SMS gateway in Malaysia that supports a brand sender ID?
International routes cannot keep an alphanumeric sender ID: it is replaced with an operator-approved number. Domestic routes can offer pre-registered alphanumeric IDs or short codes for local businesses. In every case the brand name must also appear in the message text.
Who regulates VoIP in Malaysia?
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It licenses network facilities, network services and application services under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, manages numbering and works with operators on scam measures such as the Inter Operator Spoofing Gateway. Foreign providers usually work through a locally licensed partner.
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