KUALA LUMPUR: The government has tabled the amendments to the Competition Act 2010 and the Competition Commission Act 2010 aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s competition regime, expanding the powers of the competition regulator and introducing new enforcement, settlement and appeal mechanisms.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali tabled the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Competition Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026 for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
He told the House on Tuesday (June 23) that the Bills would be tabled for second and third readings during the current parliamentary sitting.
According to the bill, the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 seeks to strengthen various aspects of the Competition Act 2010, including provisions relating to investigations and enforcement, decision-making procedures by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC), and the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Among the key changes is the expansion of the Act’s scope from “commercial activity” to “economic activity”, allowing it to cover a broader range of conduct that may affect competition in the Malaysian market.
The amendments would also broaden the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements to cover all forms of agreements, rather than limiting it to horizontal and vertical arrangements.
The Bill would introduce new powers for the commission to compel individuals and government entities to provide information, documents and records for market reviews and investigations.
It would also widen search and seizure powers, allow the commission to issue warning letters to prevent potential infringements and enable interim measures to be imposed where urgent action is required to prevent serious and irreparable harm.
The proposed amendments would further establish a settlement mechanism under which companies under investigation may admit liability and receive a reduction of up to 40% in financial penalties.
The Bill would also strengthen the existing leniency regime for enterprises that cooperate with investigations into anti-competitive conduct.
The legislation proposes new protections for whistleblowers and informants, including safeguards against reprisals and provisions allowing rewards to be granted for information leading to the discovery of infringements or convictions under the Act.
The Bill would also remove the finality of decisions made by the Competition Appeal Tribunal and allow appeals to the High Court on questions of law and the amount of financial penalties imposed.
Meanwhile, the Competition Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026 seeks, among others, to formally rename the Competition Commission as the Malaysia Competition Commission, expand its advisory role on competition-related policies, procedures and programmes, and provide for the delegation of its functions and powers.
The Bill would also empower the commission to impose financial penalties and late-payment charges under competition laws, impose fees and administrative charges for services rendered, and strengthen transparency in the appointment of commission officers through recommendations by the chief executive officer.
Both Bills state that their implementation will involve additional government expenditure, although the amount cannot presently be ascertained.
