How to Check a Licensed Money Lender in Malaysia (KPKT Guide 2026)

Every legal money lender in Malaysia holds a licence issued by KPKT, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, under the Moneylenders Act 1951. You can verify that licence in about five minutes, and you should do it before you send a single document. A lender that cannot show a valid licence number, a registered company name and a physical office is not a lender you want to deal with, whatever interest rate it advertises.

This guide walks through the checks in order, explains what a licensed loan must look like by law, and lists the warning signs that separate a licensed lender from an illegal operator, commonly called an Ah Long.

Quick Answer

1. Why Verification Matters

Illegal lenders do not advertise themselves as illegal. They copy the language of licensed lenders, use words like "berlesen" and "KPKT approved", and sometimes borrow a real company's licence number. The consequences of dealing with one are serious: interest that compounds weekly, "penalties" invented on the spot, harassment of family and employers, and no legal agreement to protect you.

A licensed lender, by contrast, is bound by the Moneylenders Act 1951 and the Moneylenders (Control and Licensing) Regulations. Interest is capped, the agreement must be in a prescribed form, and disputes can be taken to KPKT or the courts.

2. What a KPKT Moneylending Licence Looks Like

• Issued by KPKT, valid for a fixed period and renewed periodically. The licence document states the company name, the licensed premises and the licence number.
• Licence number format typically begins with WL followed by a serial number and date segments, for example KPKT WL2684/14/02 (MyPinjam Credit's licence).
• Must be displayed at the licensed premises in a visible place.
• Tied to a company and address. A licence for a company in Mont Kiara does not cover a "branch" operating from a car park in another state.
• Advertising permit. Licensed lenders also need a separate advertising permit from KPKT for advertisements, which is why legitimate ads carry a permit reference.

3. Step-by-Step: How to Verify a Lender

Step 1: Ask for the licence number and company name

A licensed lender will give both immediately. Hesitation, "we are under a partner's licence" or "the licence is being renewed" are signals to stop.

Step 2: Check the KPKT licensed moneylender list

KPKT publishes a searchable list of licensed moneylenders on its official website and through its i-KrediKom system. Search by company name or licence number. The portal layout changes from time to time, so navigate from the official KPKT domain rather than a link sent to you by the lender. Confirm that:

• the company name matches exactly
• the licensed address matches the office you are dealing with
• the licence is current, not expired or revoked

Step 3: Verify the company with SSM

Use the SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) e-Search to confirm the company exists and is active. The company registration number on the loan agreement should match SSM's record.

Step 4: Visit or video-call the office

Licensed lenders operate from real premises. You should be able to see the licence displayed. MyPinjam Credit, for example, is at Wisma YNH, Kiara 163, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, open Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Step 5: Read the agreement before signing

The law requires a written moneylending agreement in the prescribed form, stamped, with the interest rate, repayment schedule and total amount payable stated clearly. You are entitled to a copy. No legitimate lender will disburse without it, and none will ask you to sign a blank form.

4. What the Law Requires of a Licensed Lender

5. Red Flags Checklist

Stop the conversation if you see two or more of these:

• "100% approval, no documents, blacklist OK" in the advertisement
• Contact only through Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook with no office address
• Asked to pay any amount before receiving the loan
• Asked to hand over your MyKad, ATM card, bank login or passport
• Interest quoted per day or per week, or a "total to repay" with no rate stated
• Pressure to sign tonight, on a Sunday or in a car
• A "guarantor fee" or "deposit to prove you can pay"
• Money arrives from a personal bank account rather than the company account

6. What to Do If You Are Already Dealing With an Illegal Lender

• Stop paying "penalties" that are not in any agreement. Illegal lenders invent them to keep you hooked.
• Keep records. Screenshots of messages, transfer receipts and call logs.
• Report. You can lodge a report with the police and with KPKT's moneylending division. Bank Negara Malaysia also operates a public hotline for financial scams. Search the official KPKT and BNM websites for the current hotline numbers rather than relying on numbers posted in ads.
• Get counselling. AKPK provides free debt advice and can help you restructure legitimate debts so you never need an Ah Long again.
• Do not borrow from a second illegal lender to pay the first. This is how small debts become unmanageable.

7. How MyPinjam Credit Shows Its Licence

We publish our licence, KPKT WL2684/14/02, on our website and display it at our Mont Kiara office. Every loan is documented with a stamped agreement, interest is within the legal cap and is stated as an annual rate, and there are no upfront fees. We do run a CTOS check (one-time RM30 fee) as part of assessment, because a lender that does not check anything is not assessing affordability at all. You can read our compliance commitments on the compliance page.

8. Risks and Responsible Borrowing

Verifying the lender protects you from fraud. It does not make a loan affordable. Before signing with any licensed lender:

• Confirm the monthly instalment fits your budget after all existing commitments.
• Compare the annual rate, not just the instalment amount.
• Borrow for a clear purpose and the smallest amount that solves it.
• Ask how late payments are charged and what happens if you need to restructure.

FAQ

Is a licensed money lender the same as a bank?

No. Banks are regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia under the Financial Services Act. Licensed moneylenders are regulated by KPKT under the Moneylenders Act 1951. Both are legal. See our comparison of bank loans vs licensed money lenders.

Can a licensed lender charge more than 18% per year?

Not for unsecured loans. The legal cap is 18% per annum for unsecured loans and 12% per annum for secured loans.

Does "berlesen" in an advertisement prove the lender is licensed?

No. Anyone can type the word. Verify the licence number on the KPKT list and match the company name and address.

Is it safe to send my MyKad copy to a lender?

Only after you have verified the licence and only for the application. A licensed lender keeps a copy for assessment and the agreement. It never holds your original MyKad or ATM card.

What if the licence number belongs to a different company?

That is a strong sign of impersonation. Do not proceed, and consider informing the real licence holder and KPKT.

Do licensed lenders check CTOS and CCRIS?

Yes. Licensed lenders assess your credit report alongside income documents. Advertisements promising "no credit check" are a warning sign, not a benefit.

Next Steps

1. Verify any lender you are considering using the five steps above.
2. Estimate a comfortable instalment with the loan calculator.
3. Review our loan products and, when ready, check your eligibility. Approval within 24 hours or less once documents are complete, subject to assessment.

Related reading:

• Bank Loan vs Licensed Money Lender Malaysia: Which Is Right for You?
• Loan Without CCRIS Check: What Actually Exists
• Emergency Loan RM5,000 Guide