Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Competition Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026, aimed at strengthening the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) and ensuring comprehensive enforcement of the country's competition law framework. The bill was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 12 members of Parliament from both the government and opposition blocs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali emphasized the importance of the bill, which contains 34 amendments, for fostering a fair, transparent, and dynamic market amid increasingly complex cartel activities. He highlighted that Sections 4 and 10 of the existing Competition Act specifically regulate price fixing, market sharing, production control, bid rigging, and the abuse of a dominant position or monopoly.
The latest amendments extend MyCC's powers to require the provision of information, including the implementation of market reviews. This measure aims to strengthen MyCC's role, enabling market reviews to be conducted more comprehensively and holistically while addressing previous challenges in obtaining information from government agencies, enterprises, and certain parties.
To ensure efficient management of the expanding organization, the bill introduces new provisions under Section 17A on the delegation of powers and functions. Armizan noted that without clear provisions, MyCC's daily operations and administration efficiency could be compromised.
During the debate, concerns were raised by government and opposition MPs regarding the proposed extension of MyCC officers' powers to impose financial penalties, which could potentially lead to abuse of power. Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) supported the proposal, emphasizing the need for clear, transparent, and consistent guidelines to prevent undue burdens on micro, small, and medium enterprises and small businesses.
Chong stressed that penalties should be stringent enough to deter large companies from treating them as a mere cost of doing business. He argued for distinguishing between large cartels deliberately distorting the market and small enterprises that may commit offenses due to a lack of understanding.
Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis @ Fakharudy (Warisan-Kota Belud) proposed establishing a MyCC branch in Sabah to enhance competition law enforcement and expedite action on complaints related to cartels and monopolies in the Borneo region. This issue was echoed by Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah (PN-Rompin) and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan).