KUALA LUMPUR – The Finance Ministry (MoF) and the Communications Ministry will introduce new regulatory measures requiring e-commerce platforms to be registered as part of efforts to protect consumers and enhance online marketplace safety.
Madani Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was made during today’s Cabinet meeting following feedback and complaints raised by members of the public, including e-commerce operators and traditional retailers.
The Communications Minister said concerns had been raised over the lack of adequate regulation on e-commerce platforms, particularly regarding the sale of electrical and electronic products that may not comply with safety requirements, as well as products claiming halal status.
“The government’s intention is to ensure consumers are always protected.
“So, whatever action is taken, our top priority is the consumers and buyers using these e-commerce platforms,” he told a press conference after the Cabinet meeting here today.
Fahmi stressed that the government had no plans to shut down or restrict e-commerce platforms, but wanted to ensure that products sold through these platforms met existing standards and regulations.
“For example, electrical and electronic products must comply with the standards set by SIRIM (Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia).
“For products that carry a halal status, they must comply with the halal standards adopted in the country,” he said.
He said MoF and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) already had their own registration processes, while the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also had mechanisms in place to regulate relevant matters.
Fahmi added that the ministries would engage with e-commerce platform operators to discuss the proposed regulatory framework.
“From MCMC’s perspective, the licensing framework previously introduced for social media platforms has given us experience in determining what needs to be addressed when engaging with the platforms.
“So, similar discussions could perhaps be held with e-commerce platform operators,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said MCMC had received 1,964 complaints related to product sales on e-commerce platforms and other issues involving such platforms, including scams, between Jan 1, 2025 and yesterday.
Of the total, 1,147 complaints were recorded last year, while 817 were received from Jan 1 to Aug 25 this year. A total of 118 complaints are still under investigation by MCMC.
“Of these, 191 complaints concerned electrical or electronic products, while four were related to the authenticity of the halal status of products being sold,” he said. – August 26, 2026