THE proposed amendments to the Competition Act 2010 (Act 712) are aimed at eliminating cartels, monopolistic behaviour and anti-competitive practices identified as key contributors to the rising cost of living, Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said.
Tabling the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 for its second reading in the Dewan Negara on Monday, Fuziah said the amendments would enhance the Malaysia Competition Commission's (MyCC) ability to tackle increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by businesses seeking to evade enforcement action.
She said the government was determined to curb practices by a small number of companies that sought to maximise profits through unfair means rather than healthy market competition.
"These profits are not generated through fair competition, but through anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, market sharing, bid rigging in government procurement, and the abuse of dominant market positions or monopolies.
"As a result, consumers and other businesses are forced to bear the consequences through higher prices, fewer product and service choices, and lower quality. This situation has become one of the factors contributing to the rising cost of living," she said.
Fuziah said healthy market competition encouraged businesses to improve efficiency, innovation and product quality, ultimately enabling consumers to enjoy more competitive prices.
She noted that the rapid growth of the digital economy and the emergence of new business models had made anti-competitive conduct increasingly complex and more difficult to detect.
"In enforcing the Competition Act 2010, MyCC has faced various issues and challenges that have prevented the commission from achieving the objectives of the Act efficiently. Today's market landscape is no longer the same as it was when the legislation was first introduced.
"Companies involved in cartels or the abuse of monopoly positions are becoming increasingly creative in devising new methods to carry out anti-competitive practices," she said.
According to Fuziah, the amendments will strengthen provisions relating to enforcement action against anti-competitive conduct, expand MyCC's investigative powers and procedures, improve the commission's decision-making process, and enhance the appeals mechanism under the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
On July 6, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026, comprising 34 clauses designed to reinforce Act 712, including provisions relating to investigative and enforcement powers, decision-making procedures and the administration of the Competition Appeal Tribunal. - July 27, 2026
