Competition Act Amendments To Tackle New Cartel Tactics, Bolster MyCC Powers - Armizan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 proposes to strengthen enforcement against anti-competitive practices following the growing use of technology in cartel activities and the abuse of dominant market positions.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said that, in line with technological advancements and the emergence of new business models, enterprises engaged in anti-competitive practices had become increasingly sophisticated in their modus operandi.
He said the Bill proposes improvements to provisions governing enforcement action against anti-competitive practices, including cartels and abuses of dominant market positions, while also strengthening the investigative and enforcement powers and procedures of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC).
“Cartels are now using algorithms, communicating with fellow cartel members through disappearing messages, and employing digital erasure technology to eliminate evidence of their communications,” he said when tabling the Bill for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Armizan said the review of the Competition Act 2010 took into account MyCC’s 14 years of investigative experience, while also benchmarking its investigation and enforcement procedures against those of other Malaysian agencies, the principles of natural justice, and international best practices.
He said the review found that the Act needed to be strengthened to ensure it remained relevant in addressing evolving market developments.
“The amendments are essential to ensure that MyCC has the capacity to respond to increasingly complex and dynamic market structures, investigate and enforce the Competition Act 2010 against increasingly sophisticated anti-competitive conduct, and address the growing use of creative tactics by enterprises to conceal such practices,” he said.
Armizan said the 34-clause Bill also proposes, among other things, to amend Section 24 to create a criminal offence for attempting to destroy, conceal, tamper with or alter records and data with the intent of obstructing a MyCC investigation.
-- BERNAMA
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