Kuala Lumpur: Sabah DAP Chairman Senator Phoong Jin Zhe (pic) has urged the Federal Government to formulate a comprehensive policy framework to protect local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and retailers from the aggressive low-price strategies of cross-border e-commerce platforms.
Speaking in the Dewan Negara, Phoong said overseas factory-to-consumer platforms leverage heavy capital subsidies and ultra-low pricing that domestic businesses bound by operational overheads, local taxes, and statutory obligations cannot match.
He noted that similar concerns over market distortion, predatory pricing, and economic security have already prompted governments in the United States, Europe, and Indonesia to introduce regulatory measures.
To address the widening imbalance, Phoong proposed reviewing the Low Value Goods Tax and import thresholds, updating Malaysia’s competition laws, and tightening regulations governing direct-to-consumer overseas sales.
He emphasised that while consumer access to affordable goods should be preserved, proactive policy intervention is essential to guarantee fair competition and safeguard the long-term resilience of Malaysia's business ecosystem.
