KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has ramped up its crackdown on anti-competitive practices, targeting bid rigging, food and agriculture cartels, and consumer service cartels with over RM660mil in fines issued across key sectors, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister rubbished allegations that MYCC only focused on "less critical technical issues" or pursued high-profile cases without public impact.
"MyCC's actions are in line with the Madani government's commitment to promote fair competition and protect consumer welfare," he said in his winding-up speech of the Supply Bill 2026 for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 4).
According to Armizan, MYCC has taken firm action against several price-fixing cartels involving various sectors across the country.
Among those penalised were 150 flower sellers in Cameron Highlands; 24 ice manufacturers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor; 14 bakery and confectionery traders in Sibu; and four container depot operators in Penang.
MyCC also said action was taken against seven tuition and day-care centre operators, 22 general insurance companies, seven warehouse operators in Port Klang, five roll-on/roll-off operators in Langkawi, and five chicken feed producers, he said.
The total financial penalties imposed on these companies amounted to RM550.13mil.
MyCC also issued two proposed decisions against 81 umrah package providers suspected of price-fixing, as well as 22 childcare centre operators in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor for allegedly fixing fees.
"These cases demonstrate MyCC's continued focus on issues that have a direct impact on the cost of living for the public," added Armizan.
MyCC, added Armizan, had taken action against 26 companies found to be involved in bid rigging in various government procurement projects worth a total of RM539.7mil, with penalties amounting to RM97.3mil.
Those involved included eight IT vendors linked to procurement at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), seven suppliers of life-saving equipment in tenders under the Navy, as well as eight contractors involved in projects under the Public Works Department and the Irrigation and Drainage Department.
In addition, three facility management contractors involved in procurement at Perbadanan Putrajaya were also among those penalised.
MyCC, the minister said, also took enforcement action against two companies for abusing their dominant positions in the market.
A company was fined RM9.6mil for abusing its monopoly in the foreign worker temporary work visit pass insurance market, while another was fined RM10.3mil for entering into an exclusive agreement that restricted new competitors in the digital import and export approval system market.
