ARMIZAN DISMISSES CLAIMS MYCC FOCUSES ONLY ON LESS CRITICAL CASES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has dismissed allegations that the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) focuses only on less critical technical issues and pursues high-profile cases without public impact.

He said MyCC focuses its investigations and enforcement efforts on three main types of cartels, namely bid rigging in government procurement, cartels in the food and agricultural products industries, and cartels involving essential consumer services.

“For price-fixing cartels, the commission has taken stern action, including against five companies involved in chicken feed production, with financial penalties amounting to RM550.13 million.

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“MyCC has also acted against 150 flower sellers in Cameron Highlands, 24 ice manufacturers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, seven tuition and daycare operators, and 22 general insurance companies,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2026 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

For bid-rigging cartels, Armizan said MyCC had acted against several entities, including eight IT vendors involved in procurement at ASWARA; seven suppliers of lifesaving equipment in Royal Malaysian Navy procurement; eight contractors in projects under the Public Works Department and Department of Irrigation and Drainage; as well as three facility management contractors involved in procurement at Perbadanan Putrajaya.

He said the cases involved procurement worth RM539.7 million, with total penalties imposed amounting to RM97.3 million.

In addition, MyCC took action against a company for abuse of dominant position, finding that it misused its monopoly in the foreign worker temporary work visit pass insurance market, resulting in a RM9.6 million penalty.

Meanwhile, Armizan said the number of RON95 fuel misappropriation cases has declined following the implementation of the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme, based on monitoring through the Subsidised Petrol Control System.

“Reports show a drop in RON95-related cases, with 61 cases involving the seizure of 17,724 litres recorded between Sept 30 and Oct 29, 2025, compared with 71 cases and 32,229 litres seized between Aug 31 and Sept 29 this year,” he said.

-- BERNAMA