Malaysia aims to finalise new e-commerce Bill this year, says domestic trade minister

The Malaysian government aims to finalise the drafting of a new e-commerce Bill this year, according to Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. The ministry has approved the policy decision to repeal the Electronic Commerce Act 2006 and replace it with a more comprehensive law, but the process will require coordination between ministries and extensive engagement with stakeholders, including e-commerce platforms, service providers, and industry players.

Armizan said two committees have been established to expedite the drafting of the bill, and matters such as the division of responsibilities among ministries and regulatory mechanisms for e-commerce platforms are currently being fine-tuned. The next stage will involve a regulatory impact assessment before the bill is submitted for further consideration.

The government aims to introduce a licensing regime for e-commerce platforms, particularly in view of the influx of goods from overseas, consumer safety, and the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while ensuring that regulation does not hamper the growth of the e-commerce sector.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.