Malaysia Competition Commission launches digital economy market review

24 March 2026

On 10 February 2026, the Malaysia Competition Commission (“MyCC”) launched a comprehensive Market Review on the Digital Economy Ecosystem under the Competition Act 2010 (“Review”). The Review aims to assess competition, business practices, and consumer protection within Malaysia’s growing digital economy. It was conducted over an 18-month period and focused on key sectors including:

• mobile operating systems and payment services;
• retail e-commerce platforms (i.e. retail marketplaces);
• digital advertising services;
• online travel agencies; and
• data privacy, via a cross-sectoral analysis.

The Review stipulated that certain platform practices such as high commission fees, respective contractual terms, and control over consumer data may restrict competition, increase costs, and reduce opportunities for local businesses especially micro, small, and medium enterprises.

MyCC subsequently proposed 18 policy recommendations, including (a) creation of a Central Digital Economy Taskforce; (b) coordination of government oversight; (c) targeted enforcement actions against online travel agencies; (d) improvement of digital taxation; and (e) enhancement of transparency and data access to ensure a fair, inclusive, and consumer-focused digital economy.