Malaysia is getting a new e-commerce law, what could change for online shoppers?

The Malaysian government plans to replace the Electronic Commerce Act 2006 with a new law to enhance accountability among online platforms and sellers.

The proposed legislation will address gaps in seller conduct, platform oversight, and cross-border e-commerce identified in the existing framework.

The government aims to introduce this new e-commerce Bill in March 2027 to better protect consumers and local MSMEs, improving transparency and safety in the online marketplace.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Online shoppers could see clearer accountability for e-commerce platforms and sellers under a new law.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced when tabling Budget 2027 that the government had agreed to introduce a new law to replace Malaysia’s Electronic Commerce Act 2006.

If passed by Parliament and brought into force, the proposed legislation would strengthen accountability among online platforms and sellers.

Alongside this move, the government is also examining legislative and enforcement measures to protect local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from unfair competition and ensure products bought by consumers are safe.

The move follows the government’s decision to repeal and replace the 2006 Act, which Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said did not comprehensively define the responsibilities of platforms, sellers and other participants in online transactions.

On September 19, Armizan said the ministry had approved the policy decision to replace the existing law with a more comprehensive framework.

What does the Electronic Commerce Act 2006 not adequately cover?

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living’s (KPDN) through their review of Malaysia’s e-commerce regulatory framework, published in October 2025 had identified gaps in platform accountability and the wider regulatory framework.

There are several areas that the 2006 Act does not adequately address.

Regulating e-commerce platforms directly

The Act does not provide a comprehensive framework governing how online marketplaces must operate or what regulatory obligations they must fulfil.

Clearly defining platform accountability

It does not comprehensively establish the responsibilities of platforms when sellers engage in misleading or potentially harmful practices.

Regulating sellers and their conduct

The Act does not comprehensively regulate online sellers and their businesses.

Addressing cross-border e-commerce

The existing framework does not adequately address regulatory and enforcement challenges posed by overseas sellers and platforms serving Malaysian consumers.

Platform oversight and enforcement

There is no comprehensive legal framework addressing oversight of platforms and ensuring accountability.

Keeping pace with the wider digital marketplace

The Act does not adequately define the roles and responsibilities of intermediaries involved in product visibility, advertising, transactions and access to consumers.

So, what could change for people who shop online?

The Electronic Commerce Act 2006 primarily provides legal recognition for electronic transactions.

A new law could give shoppers greater clarity over a marketplace’s responsibilities when a seller offers misleading products, fails to fulfil an order or engages in questionable practices.

Will platforms have to do more to ensure products are safe?

Product safety is one of the concerns highlighted by the government.

In his Budget 2027 speech, Anwar said the government was examining legislative and enforcement measures to ensure goods bought by consumers were safe.

The government has also raised concerns about foreign e-commerce companies operating in the Malaysian market without adequate oversight. The proposed law is intended to examine a broader framework for regulating platforms and sellers.

Will it become easier to identify a seller?

Identifying the actual seller can be difficult when consumers make purchases through large online marketplaces, particularly when businesses operate from overseas.

KPDN’s review of the e-commerce regulatory framework considered stronger seller identification and information-disclosure requirements, including measures to help establish the identity of businesses operating online.

Such measures could help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and give authorities better information when investigating complaints.

What if the seller is based overseas?

Cross-border transactions can complicate enforcement when a seller has no registered business entity in Malaysia.

Consumers who receive defective products, do not receive their orders or have disputes over transactions may find it difficult to pursue the seller, particularly if the business operates in another country.

The government has identified the regulation of foreign e-commerce businesses as an area requiring attention.

Armizan has also highlighted regulatory gaps affecting foreign sellers and said the government was studying ways to strengthen platform accountability and the application of Malaysian laws to overseas entities.

Will it be easier to resolve disputes and obtain refunds?

KPDN’s findings identified dispute resolution and consumer redress as areas requiring improvement, including the possibility of a more integrated online dispute-resolution mechanism.

In February, Armizan told Parliament that the ministry was considering a more comprehensive online dispute-resolution platform that could handle the process from filing a complaint to adjudication or a decision.

Such a system could make it easier for consumers to submit complaints and pursue disputes digitally.

Will online marketplaces need a licence?

Licensing is another regulatory option being considered to strengthen oversight of e-commerce platforms.

On September 19, Armizan had in a Bernama report said the government was studying the possibility of introducing a licensing regime, particularly in view of overseas goods entering the market, consumer safety and the sustainability of local MSMEs.

The distinction matters because registration, licensing and other compliance requirements can impose different obligations on businesses.

In his Budget 2027 speech, Anwar announced that the proposed e-commerce Bill would likely be tabled at the next Parliament sitting in March to strengthen accountability among online platforms and sellers.

The Bill’s detailed provisions will determine how far the reforms go, including whether they introduce new obligations for platforms, strengthen oversight of foreign sellers or create additional avenues for consumer redress.

Until the replacement law takes effect, existing legislation — including the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024 — continues to apply where relevant.

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马来西亚政府计划以新法律取代 2006 年的《电子商务法》，以加强在线平台和卖家之间的问责制。

拟议的立法将解决现有框架中发现的卖家行为、平台监管和跨境电子商务方面的不足。

政府计划于 2027 年 3 月推出这项新的电子商务法案，以更好地保护消费者和本地中小微企业，提高在线市场的透明度和安全性。

吉隆坡，10 月 13 日讯——一项新法律有望让网购者看到电子商务平台和卖家更明确的问责机制。

马来西亚首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣在提交 2027 年财政预算案时宣布，政府已同意推出一项新法律，以取代马来西亚 2006 年的电子商务法。

如果该法案获得议会通过并生效，将加强在线平台和卖家之间的问责制。

与此同时，政府也在研究立法和执法措施，以保护本地微型、小型和中型企业（MSME）免受不公平竞争，并确保消费者购买的产品是安全的。

此前，政府决定废除并取代 2006 年的《互联网交易法》。国内贸易和生活成本部长拿督阿米赞·莫哈末·阿里表示，该法案没有全面界定平台、卖家和其他在线交易参与者的责任。

9月19日，阿米赞表示，该部已批准政策决定，用更全面的框架取代现行法律。

2006 年《电子商务法》有哪些方面没有得到充分涵盖？

马来西亚国内贸易及生活成本部 (KPDN) 在 2025 年 10 月发布的《马来西亚电子商务监管框架审查报告》中指出，平台问责制和更广泛的监管框架存在差距。

2006 年法案在几个方面没有得到充分解决。

直接监管电子商务平台

该法案没有提供全面的框架来规范在线市场的运营方式或它们必须履行的监管义务。

明确界定平台问责制

它没有全面明确当卖家从事误导性或潜在有害行为时，平台应承担的责任。

规范卖家及其行为

该法案并未对网络卖家及其业务进行全面监管。

应对跨境电子商务

现有框架未能充分解决海外卖家和平台为马来西亚消费者带来的监管和执法挑战。

平台监管与执法

目前尚无全面的法律框架来监管平台并确保其承担责任。

与更广泛的数字市场保持同步

该法案没有充分界定参与产品展示、广告、交易和接触消费者的中介机构的角色和责任。

那么，对于网购人群来说，哪些方面可能会发生变化呢？

2006 年《电子商务法》主要为电子交易提供法律认可。

一项新法律可以让消费者更清楚地了解当卖家提供误导性产品、未能履行订单或从事可疑行为时，市场平台应承担的责任。

平台是否需要采取更多措施来确保产品安全？

产品安全是政府重点关注的问题之一。

安华在2027年财政预算案演讲中表示，政府正在研究立法和执法措施，以确保消费者购买的商品是安全的。

政府还对在马来西亚市场运营的外国电子商务公司缺乏充分监管表示担忧。拟议的法律旨在研究一个更广泛的平台和卖家监管框架。

识别卖家会变得更容易吗？

当消费者通过大型在线市场购物时，识别实际卖家可能很困难，尤其是当企业在海外运营时。

KPDN 对电子商务监管框架的审查考虑了更严格的卖家身份识别和信息披露要求，包括帮助确定在线经营企业身份的措施。

这些措施可以帮助消费者做出更明智的购买决定，并为有关部门调查投诉提供更好的信息。

如果卖家位于海外怎么办？

如果卖方在马来西亚没有注册的商业实体，跨境交易可能会使执法变得复杂。

消费者如果收到有缺陷的产品、没有收到订单或与卖家发生交易纠纷，可能会发现很难追究卖家的责任，特别是如果该企业在其他国家/地区运营。

政府已将外国电子商务企业的监管确定为需要关注的领域。

Armizan 还强调了影响外国卖家的监管漏洞，并表示政府正在研究如何加强平台问责制以及马来西亚法律对海外实体的适用性。

解决纠纷和获得退款会更容易吗？

KPDN 的调查结果指出，纠纷解决和消费者补偿是需要改进的领域，包括建立一个更加综合的在线纠纷解决机制的可能性。

今年 2 月，阿米赞向议会表示，该部正在考虑建立一个更全面的在线纠纷解决平台，该平台可以处理从提出投诉到裁决或做出决定的整个过程。

这样的系统可以让消费者更容易地以数字化方式提交投诉和解决纠纷。

在线市场需要许可证吗？

许可制度是目前考虑的另一种监管选项，旨在加强对电子商务平台的监管。

9月19日，阿米赞在马新社的一篇报道中表示，政府正在研究引入许可制度的可能性，特别是考虑到海外商品进入市场、消费者安全以及本地中小微企业的可持续发展。

这一区别很重要，因为注册、许可和其他合规要求可能会对企业施加不同的义务。

安华在2027年财政预算案演讲中宣布，拟议的电子商务法案很可能在3月份的下届国会会议上提交审议，以加强在线平台和卖家的问责制。

该法案的详细条款将决定改革的程度，包括是否对平台引入新的义务、加强对外国卖家的监管或为消费者创造更多补救途径。

在替代法律生效之前，现行法律（包括 1999 年《消费者保护法》和 2024 年《消费者保护（电子贸易交易）条例》）在相关情况下继续适用。

由于雾霾持续，萤火虫航空取消梳邦至新加坡的航班，直至10月14日。

安瓦尔表示，联邦与各州合作是实现包容性、可持续发展的关键。

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