Business groups urge stronger oversight of cross-border e-commerce
MRCA wants foreign platforms to register in Malaysia, while SMEAM is seeking a clearer route for complaints about potentially non-compliant products.
Stricter enforcement of rules governing online commerce and products should accompany Malaysia’s planned e-commerce law changes, the SME Association of Malaysia (SMEAM) and Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) said. Their call reflects concerns about cheap goods entering the market through overseas online platforms.
At a joint press conference, SMEAM national president Dr Chin Chee Seong said domestic businesses should face regulatory conditions comparable to those applied to foreign platforms. He said enforcement was also needed to protect consumers against products potentially failing Malaysian safety standards, rather than to prevent overseas platforms from entering Malaysia.
Chin said checks on incoming products were only part of the enforcement issue. Businesses also needed an identifiable reporting route for suspected breaches of product rules, along with responses to their complaints.
MRCA president Datuk Liew Bin proposed compulsory Malaysian registration for foreign platforms, saying this would enable authorities to regulate them. SMEAM, meanwhile, said authorities had not consulted it on the legislative proposals, leaving it unaware of what the changes would entail.
The government is developing legislation to supersede the Electronic Commerce Act 2006. On Sept 19, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said consultations were planned with industry participants, including platforms and service providers.
Registration obligations for e-commerce platforms are among the regulatory options being examined, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
