KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 20): Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong proposes that the government adapt the Rahmah sales programme into online voucher scheme to help local traders compete with foreign e-commerce platforms like China-based Pinduoduo.

Debating Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, Khoo said introducing legislation to address Pinduoduo’s impact on local traders could take time, therefore, in the interim, the government could adapt the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s Rahmah programme of low-priced essentials into an online initiative dubbed e-Rahmah.

He suggests that consumers could use the vouchers on platforms such as TikTok and Shopee, helping to channel spending towards local businesses.

Pinduoduo, which launched in Malaysia last December, offers a wide range of products, from personal and household goods to snacks, at a fraction of local prices.

The Edge Malaysia weekly, in the Aug 24-30 edition, reported that local retailers and e-commerce players had complained of an uneven playing field with China-based e-commerce platforms.

Among their grievances was that Pinduoduo was not subject to the same regulatory and tax requirements that local traders had to comply with.

When tabling Budget 2027 on Oct 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would table an E-Commerce Bill at an upcoming parliamentary sitting to regulate foreign e-commerce platforms operating in Malaysia.

Separately, Khoo also proposed building a rail link connecting Melaka to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Currently, the only rail link in Melaka is the Keretapi Tanah Melayu service that only reached Tampin, near the state’s border with Negeri Sembilan.

The proposed rail link to KLIA could cover a distance of about 90km in about around 30 minutes, he said.

The link could spur Melaka’s tourism industry, attract investment and support business activity, contributing to the state’s economic growth, he added.

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