Globally, eCommerce fraud is escalating, and Malaysia is no exception. In 2024 alone the Royal Malaysia Police logged 35,368 cybercrime cases tied to online scams, and in just the first three months of 2025 we’re already at 12,110 cases with losses totalling RM 573.7 million. Legal protections such as the Contracts Act 1950, Consumer Protection Act 1999 and the Penal Code attempt to cover the issue, but as of today, there’s no single, dedicated act governing eCommerce fraud. Meanwhile, Singapore and Australia have taken steps to curb scams with the Singaporean Technical Reference 76 and the Australian Scam Prevention Framework.
A case study on the Federal Court case of Lim Swee Choo & Chiam Eng Huat @ Chiam Eng Hong v Ong Koh Hou and another appeal.
The Electricity Supply (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed at the Dewan Rakyat on 30 July 2025. It was subsequently passed by the Dewan Negara on 9 September 2025. The Bill contains several key insertions and amendments which in essence provides for the importation and exportation of electricity as well as the introduction of ‘green attributes’.
eCommerce in Malaysia is primarily given legal recognition by the Electronic Commerce Act 2006 (‘ECA 2006’). The ECA 2006 facilitates electronic transactions by recognising the legal validity of electronic messages, documents, and contracts. It broadly covers ‘commercial transactions’ conducted via electronic means, encompassing the supply or exchange of goods or services.
While Malaysian law does not explicitly mention the ‘Metaverse’, many of its activities share the same fundamental characteristics as eCommerce.
The Review of eCommerce Legislation Final Report (Laporan Akhir Kajian Semakan Semula Perundangan eDagang) (‘the report’) represents a major national effort to modernise, refresh and renew the legal and regulatory framework for online commerce in Malaysia. Led by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (‘KPDN’) with input from over 90 stakeholders, the report provides a comprehensive evaluation of existing eCommerce laws, identifies key enforcement and consumer protection gaps, and sets out a structured plan for reform.
In the digital era, the appeal of e-commerce is undeniable, browse at home, checkout in seconds, enjoy doorstep delivery. Yet this convenience masks a growing underside of risk for consumers. With smartphones, high-speed connectivity and platforms offering deep discounts, many of us have embraced online shopping as the go-to. The advantages include speed, access to global and local products, continuous promotions and variety.
Online shopping often brings many benefits, that is until issues arise.
On 26 October 2025, an Agreement Between the United States and Malaysia on Reciprocal Trade was entered into. The Trade Agreement is aimed at establishing a clear and predictable framework for reciprocal trade. The Trade Agreement establishes a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing bilateral economic ties, strengthening supply chain resilience, and aligning both countries’ trade and national-security interests. It is composed of seven key sections and multiple operative articles, each setting specific reciprocal commitments
美利坚合众国政府(’美国’)与马来西亚政府已就一项《互惠贸易协议》(’协议’)达成共识,旨在加强双方的双边经济关系,并为两国出口商提供前所未有的市场准入机会。
The rapid growth of digital markets, especially in e-commerce and multi-sided platform business, has raised significant concerns about unfair trade practices and monopolistic acts.
On 19 August 2025, the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand released the Draft Guidelines for Considering Unfair Trade Practices and Monopolistic Acts in Multi-Sided Platform Business, Digital Services, and E-Commerce to address these issues. The Draft Guideline establishes four principles and identifies two main categories of potentially anti-competitive conduct and unfair trade practices.
The much-anticipated Cross-Border Insolvency Bill was officially passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 29th July 2025, marking a milestone in Malaysia’s legal and commercial development. After an engaged debate involving Members of Parliament from both sides of the political aisle, the Bill received broad support for its potential to modernise the way Malaysia handles cross-border financial disputes.
