KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has launched investigations into various associations and their committees over suspected cartel activities involving the announcement of price hikes for services and goods.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Idrus Harun, said the commission had received information from on-the-ground sources, mainstream media, and social media platforms.
They indicated that certain associations, through their leaders, had made announcements about price increases in the future.
He said these announcements were actually attempts to deceive the public and were decisions by the associations that exhibited cartel-like behaviour.
He said such decisions appeared to be made in secret, with the hope that their actions would go undetected, as they were already in violation of competition laws.
"MyCC is disappointed by the recent actions of several associations that have announced price hikes or set minimum prices for services or goods, including imposing new trade conditions that have a direct negative impact on the rakyat's cost of living.
"This is particularly concerning as it involves essential sectors such as transport, care services, healthcare, and food, which are the basic necessities for the people," he said in a statement today.
He said these announcements could be classified as anti-competitive agreements or cartels, as they reflected decisions made by the association's committee members, who are also competitors in the industry.
"It could also be seen as a signal from the association to its members, encouraging the widespread adoption of the set decisions to ensure that the cartel-like behaviour is carried out in an organised manner," he said.
Idrus affirmed that MyCC would remain committed, without fear or favour, to protecting consumer interests and ensuring healthy competition in the market.
"Through amendments to the Competition Act 2010, which will be presented early next year, MyCC's investigation and enforcement powers will be further strengthened to ensure that economic sabotage behaviours like this are tackled more effectively with heavier penalties," he said.
MyCC welcomes cooperation from committee members or association members who disagree with their association's cartel-like practices, as well as from the public and government agencies that have information regarding any attempts or actions leading to the formation of cartels by the associations under their supervision.
Information can be submitted via the official channels at https://www.mycc.gov.my/bm/membuat-aduan or via email to complaints@mycc.gov.my for further action. Complainants are also encouraged to use alternative channels such as letters, phone calls, or filing complaints at MyCC's office.