Kota Kinabalu: The Communications Ministry has directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to engage e-commerce platforms after physical shop operators complained of losing business to fast-growing online sellers.
“We do not stop traders and entrepreneurs from using e-commerce platforms, but we are wary of any negative impact on the local ecosystem,” Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil told a media conference after opening the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) in Inanam Sentral, Thursday.
Responding to a question from the media on whether Malaysia would follow Indonesia in closing e-commerce transactions on social media platforms like TikTok, Fahmi pointed out the effect of shop closures on entrepreneurs.
He said the Prime Minister has told the Cabinet of shop operators’ appeals since last month. The operators say their businesses are losing out to fast-growing online platforms.
In response, Fahmi said as the first step, he has directed MCMC to invite all e-commerce platforms for engagement.
He said he will meet Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Ghani together with e-commerce platforms, shop owners and small business operators to discuss products sold too cheaply or below market price.
He said local courier companies had taken a heavy hit because some platforms used only one courier service.
“This causes an imbalance in the courier sector,” he said.
He added that the matter would be handled through MCMC, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the Finance Ministry, the Inland Revenue Board and other agencies.
On support for local entrepreneurs, Fahmi said MCMC helped develop more than 500 entrepreneurs in 2022 and the number has since grown to 12,000 nationwide.
Under NADI’s nationwide intensive entrepreneurship training programme, Bootcamp Usahawan NADI 2026, the three most successful entrepreneurs from each state will compete nationally.
Winners will receive support to grow their businesses, including through e-commerce platforms.
The top three from Sabah are Atamah Tingadon (NADI Pekan Bingkor), Kasmah Abdul Hassan (NADI Kg Pasir Putih) and Syazwani Abdul Basid (NADI Kg Lawa Kabajang).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Ts Mustapha Sakmud was among those present.
