KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 6): The government plans to table an amendment to the competition law in the current parliamentary sitting to strengthen investigative and enforcement powers of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC).

One key area under review is MyCC’s current inability to appeal decisions made by the Competition Appeal Tribunal under the existing Competition Act 2010, said Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

"In contrast, the opposing party can seek a judicial review,” Armizan said during the oral question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday. “This is among the issues we aim to address in the amendment bill.”

Under the current law, judicial review would be the final avenue for appeal for those found infringing the Competition Act.  

A proposed bill will go through three readings at the Dewan Rakyat before a vote is called. If passed, the bill will be sent to the upper house, Dewan Negara, for another three rounds of readings before it is presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his royal assent.

"The draft bill has been approved by the Attorney General’s Chambers, and is currently being circulated to other ministries for feedback,” Armizan said.

Additionally, the proposed amendments seek to introduce a regulatory framework to oversee mergers and acquisitions in the country, he said.

Armizan also said the MyCC is actively investigating 13 cases of alleged bid rigging, involving 561 businesses and tenders, valued at RM2.3 billion.

He did not provide further details, but noted that the MyCC has been intensifying its enforcement efforts against bid-rigging cartels since 2024.

Efforts to combat bid rigging are crucial to ensuring that such practices do not undermine the government’s commitment to transparent procurement governance, Armizan stressed.

In September 2024, the MyCC announced penalties against seven privately held companies for alleged involvement in a cartel to bid for four defence tenders, worth RM20 million.

The commission was also assessing complaints concerning 463 enterprises in tenders worth RM9.27 billion.

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