Kuala lumpur: The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) and the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen strategic cooperation in data sharing, economic analysis, and capacity building. The MoU was signed by MyCC chairman Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Chief Statistician of Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin at a ceremony held at the DOSM headquarters yesterday. The signing was witnessed by MyCC chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Ismail and DOSM Deputy Chief Statistician (Economic Programmes) Siti Asiah Ahmad.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the collaboration signifies the government's commitment to adopt a data-centric approach to strengthen the implementation of government policies, including enforcement efforts related to competition issues in the country. The framework established by the MoU encompasses the strengthening and sharing of data, capacity-building programmes, and the exchange of expertise to continuously monitor and improve competition processes across various sectors of the economy. MyCC views this collaboration as an opportunity to enhance the role of data and analytics in competition economics, especially at a time when data is considered a primary global commodity.

Meanwhile, DOSM's Chief Statistician, Mohd Uzir, stated that the MoU covers the sharing of administrative and related economic data, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation and understanding of data through the combination of expertise in statistics and competition. The collaboration also focuses on human capital development through capacity-building programmes, training, and knowledge-sharing initiatives between the two organisations.

Mohd Uzir highlighted that the strategic collaboration includes joint monitoring of strategic economic sectors and government policies to ensure fair competition across all economic sectors. It is expected to strengthen the capabilities of both agencies in providing more comprehensive statistics and analyses, as well as enhancing understanding of market structures, supply chains, and factors influencing price movements. Overall, the MoU aims to enhance the sharing of knowledge and expertise, supporting the development of a more competitive and transparent economic ecosystem while safeguarding the interests of businesses, consumers, and the Malaysian economy.