KUALA LUMPUR: The E-Commerce Bill is a crucial step toward fostering a healthy digital economy, protecting consumer interests, and upholding fair market competition, said the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA).
MRCA president Datuk Liew Bin emphasised that all businesses operating in Malaysia, domestic or foreign, must strictly adhere to statutory requirements regarding taxation, product safety, consumer protection, and commercial compliance. "We are not against foreign investment, nor are we opposed to e-commerce growth. Online and brick-and-mortar retail can complement each other to expand the market pie," he said in a statement today.
MRCA also recommended that the proposed legislation clearly delineate the liabilities of e-commerce platforms and merchants, tighten oversight on non-compliant goods, enhance seller verification and dispute resolution mechanisms, and enforce tax transparency to ensure cross-border sellers compete on an equal footing with local merchants.
Concurrently, MRCA said the government should scale up digital adoption support for domestic SMEs, helping them develop omnichannel capabilities, strengthen brand equity, and tap overseas markets. "We welcome competition, but it must be fair. A sustainable e-commerce ecosystem should not come at the expense of physical retail, but it must create mutual value for consumers, merchants, and the wider economy," it added.
Looking ahead, MRCA cautioned that the retail industry continues to grapple with rising overheads, including wages, rental, logistics, and inventory costs, alongside heightened competition from online players.
The association called on the government to broaden access to SME financing, digital adoption, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, talent upskilling, and homegrown brand development, while maintaining regular stakeholder engagements to assess policy outcomes.
Overall, MRCA acknowledged the positive signals delivered by Budget 2027 in key areas, but stressed that the true measure of the budget's success lies beyond allocations and policy announcements; it must translate into private investment, job creation, productivity gains, and robust consumption.
"We stand for fair remuneration for workers while ensuring businesses remain viable to create jobs; we embrace the digital economy while demanding a transparent and level playing field.
Only when the government, businesses, workers, and consumers benefit together can Malaysia's retail sector thrive sustainably and contribute more meaningfully to national economic growth," Liew Bin said. — BERNAMA
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd