The Dewan Negara has passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026, aimed at strengthening enforcement against anti-competitive practices, particularly in the digital economy and increasingly sophisticated cartel activities.
The Bill, which had earlier been approved by the Dewan Rakyat on July 6, introduces a series of amendments to the Competition Act 2010 designed to enhance the investigative and enforcement powers of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) while improving market competition and consumer protection.
Among the key changes is the introduction of a new criminal offence for any person who attempts to destroy, conceal, alter or mutilate records or data with the intention of obstructing investigations conducted by MyCC. The amendment to Section 24 is expected to strengthen the commission’s ability to gather evidence and prosecute anti-competitive conduct.
The amended law also expands MyCC’s enforcement capabilities to better tackle price-fixing, bid-rigging, market-sharing arrangements, output restrictions and other anti-competitive agreements that distort market competition. The reforms are intended to ensure Malaysia’s competition framework remains effective as business transactions become increasingly digital and cross-border in nature.
