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THE government has provided assurances that legitimate electricity account holders will not be held responsible for bills or debts resulting from fraudulent accounts, as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) intensifies security measures to curb identity misuse and insider account fraud.
Minister of Energy Transition and Water (PETRA) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the ministry along with the Energy Commission and TNB are taking the issue of falsified accounts seriously, noting that identity fraud, false rental agreements, and mule accounts have been used to steal electricity.
“These issues threaten system security, service integrity, and consumer confidence, while legitimate account owners could otherwise be exposed to debts that are not theirs,” he said in the Dewan Rakat on Thursday.
To address the problem, Fadillah explained that TNB has implemented biometric verification at Kedai Tenaga outlets since July 2023, using fingerprints and MyKad for identity authentication.
“Data is checked directly via TNB’s biometric devices. This method is secure, meets industry standards, and is widely adopted in government, banking, and telecommunications sectors,” he said in reply to a question raised by Kepong Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng who urged the minister to outline immediate measures taken by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the authorities to prevent the opening of electricity accounts without the owners’ knowledge.
Lim cited that there are claims by insiders that accounts are being created for the purpose of electricity theft and called for assurances that legitimate account holders will not be held liable for any resulting bills or debts.
In addition, TNB has rolled out electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) for online applications, requiring users to scan identification documents and match them with a facial selfie for verification.
The system will be gradually expanded this year to cover all individual applications via the myTNB portal.
“This approach not only reduces the risk of identity fraud but also strengthens consumer confidence and ensures compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010,” the minister said.
Fadillah stressed that with the introduction of biometric verification and eKYC, account holders will not be held liable for bills or debts arising from fraudulent activity.
TNB will continue to reinforce identity security mechanisms to protect consumers, prevent electricity theft, and maintain the integrity of Malaysia’s electricity supply system. - November 27, 2025