Why Run an Individual Search?
- KYC & AML: Verify directors / UBOs before onboarding a new client.
- Hiring & Vendor Screening: Check credit, court and bankruptcy status to avoid future risk.
- Regulatory Compliance: Licensing bodies, banks and professional firms must keep evidential records of background checks under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010 and PDPA 2010.
Failing to run basic checks can expose a business to fraud, claw-back claims or regulatory penalties.
1. Legal Framework & Consent
| Statute | Key Take-away |
|---|---|
| Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010 | Access to credit/bankruptcy data requires the individual’s written consent or a permissible purpose (e.g., credit evaluation). |
| Personal Data Protection Act 2010 | Collect only data you need, store it securely, and keep it no longer than necessary. |
| Companies Act 2016 | Section 201 prohibits appointment of an undischarged bankrupt as director. |
Always obtain a signed consent letter (or a clause in your engagement/hiring form) before you search.
2. Core Information Sources & How to Access Them
| What You Get | Where to Search | Fee / Turn-around | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & MyKad validation | Name, NRIC, date of birth | eKYC providers (CTOS eKYC, MyEG) | From RM3, seconds |
| Personal Credit Report & Score | CCRIS 12-mth repayment, legal suits, directorships, 3-digit score | MyCTOS Score Report online | RM 27.90, instant |
| Bank Negara CCRIS | Official loan & repayment history | eCCRIS portal (self-registration, fully online since Feb 2022) | Free, instant download |
| Bankruptcy Status | Undischarged bankrupt list | e-Insolvency (Malaysian Dept. of Insolvency) – RM 10/search | RM 10, instant |
| Litigation / Court Actions | Active & closed civil suits | e-Kehakiman (e-Filing) search; public users may buy a daily pass | ~RM 10 per file, same-day access |
| Directorships & Shareholdings | Companies where the individual is/was a director or shareholder | MyData-SSM personal name search | From RM 15, instant |
| Professional & Regulatory Checks | MIA, Bar Council, MOH, EPF, SOCSO, etc. | Respective portals / letter of good standing | Varies |
| Watch-lists / Adverse Media | Sanctions, PEP, negative news | Commercial databases (World-Check, Dow Jones) | Subscription |
3. Step-by-Step Search Workflow
- Obtain Consent – get the candidate/client to sign a standard consent letter referencing CRA Act 2010 & PDPA.
- Define Scope – choose which databases fit your risk profile (e.g., credit + bankruptcy + litigation for key hires).
-
Run Online Searches
- Pull MyCTOS Score and eCCRIS.
- Conduct e-Insolvency bankruptcy lookup.
- Search litigation via e-Kehakiman (by NRIC/name variations).
- Extract SSM directorship list from MyData.
- Verify & Reconcile – confirm that NRIC numbers match across all reports; flag discrepancies.
- Compile Findings – summarise in a single PDF with hyperlinks to source reports; keep originals for 7 years.
- Assess & Decide – apply your internal risk matrix (e.g., no undischarged bankrupts as directors; credit score ≥ 650 for finance roles).
- Secure Storage & Disposal – encrypt files; purge after statutory retention period.
4. Typical Costs & Timelines (April 2025)
| Package | Contents | Cost (RM) | Turn-around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Check | MyCTOS Basic + e-Insolvency | ≈ 40 | < 15 min |
| Standard KYC | MyCTOS Score, eCCRIS, MyData Directorship, Litigation search | 80–120 | 30 min – 2 hrs |
| Enhanced Due-Diligence | Standard KYC + Adverse media + Global sanctions | 200–350 | Same day |
| Full Executive Vetting | Enhanced DD + Professional licence verification + Academic check | 400–600 | 1–2 days |
5. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
| Pitfall | Fix |
|---|---|
| Searching without consent – exposes you to PDPA fines | Always secure a signed form or digital consent. |
| Name mismatches (e.g., “MOHD” vs “MUHAMMAD”) | Search every alias & NRIC; rely on NRIC for confirmation. |
| Out-of-date results | Pull fresh reports; CCRIS updates every month, CTOS daily. |
| Ignoring sealed or ex-parte suits | Check both the e-filing portal and commercial litigation databases for completeness. |
6. How Our Firm Can Help
Skip the multiple portals—we deliver a single consolidated report:
- MyCTOS Score + CCRIS summary
- Bankruptcy status certificate
- Live litigation docket snapshot
- SSM directorship & shareholder map
- Red-flag commentary and risk rating
Turn-around: < 24 hours. Fee: from RM 250 per individual (volume discounts available).
👉 Need a clean, audit-ready background report? Contact us today.
Last Updated: 28-Apr-2025