PETALING JAYA: The government will coordinate enforcement measures over the entry of foreign entities and their products, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Finance Ministry will look into the coordination through a working committee.
He added that the matter was discussed at a Cabinet committee meeting on empowering the purchase and use of local products, which he chaired on Thursday (Oct 15).
"These efforts are important to ensure local traders have a fair opportunity to compete, grow their businesses and expand their market reach," he said in a statement.
"The government must also ensure that the growth of the digital economy does not sideline local enterprises, but instead fosters a transparent, orderly and accountable trading environment for all.
"As such, the drafting of the E-Commerce Bill was also given due attention to support a more effective ecosystem that takes into account the interests of traders, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and consumers, as well as changes in the trading landscape."
Fadillah said the committee was established in July as part of Putrajaya’s efforts to promote local products.
He said the government would also review regulations and strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair competition in the rapidly evolving digital commerce landscape.
This takes into account the concerns of local traders, particularly MSMEs, over increasingly challenging market competition, including the rapid growth of digital commerce and the presence of foreign e-commerce entities, he said.
"The committee will focus on the need to strengthen policy coordination, review the legal framework and improve enforcement effectiveness to ensure fair competition and safeguard the interests of local MSMEs," he said.
To expand the impact of the Jom Malaysia campaign, the meeting also discussed standardising the use of its logo in programmes promoting local products, while allowing ministries to continue using their designated logos for their respective programmes, he added.
He said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has been proposed as the coordinator of guidelines on logo usage, including monitoring and reporting mechanisms, to strengthen implementation and raise public awareness of the importance of buying and using local products.
"Empowering the purchase and use of local products requires a whole-of-nation approach involving close cooperation among ministries, agencies, industry players, MSMEs, retailers, wholesalers, digital platforms and consumers.
"This integrated approach is essential to ensure local traders and MSMEs are not only protected from unfair competition, but are also given the space and opportunities to grow, improve productivity and reach wider markets," he said.
