Kuala lumpur: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) continues to strengthen its role in promoting digital entrepreneurs through various initiatives, including the Business Digitalisation Programme 2025 (PPP25), aimed at empowering entrepreneurs in utilising digital technology.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, KPDN's deputy minister, Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, highlighted the ministry's commitment to monitoring e-commerce platforms, social media, and websites to detect fake advertisements, suspicious offers, and counterfeit products. She acknowledged the challenges digital entrepreneurs face, such as the counterfeiting of goods sold on e-commerce platforms, which results in low-quality counterfeit goods flooding the local market. KPDN aims to protect consumers and legitimate entrepreneurs from unfair competition.

Fuziah outlined that enforcement actions would be pursued under several acts, including the Consumer Protection Act 1999, the Companies Act 2016, the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, and the Trademarks Act 2019. Moreover, KPDN is actively monitoring the prices of goods on e-commerce platforms to prevent price manipulation and manages complaints through the eAduan KPDN, allowing both consumers and traders to file grievances.

The primary objective, as clarified by Fuziah, is to empower entrepreneurs involved in online businesses by providing advisory services, trademark registration, and intellectual property protection. KPDN is committed to assisting with the complaint process if products are counterfeited, with enforcement officers authorized to take down advertisements for counterfeit goods, contingent on product owners filing the complaint themselves.

Efforts are underway to expedite the trademark registration process at MyIPO to a four-month duration, alongside advocating for consumers to prioritise locally made goods. This initiative is deemed crucial for ensuring healthy competition in the industry, thereby guaranteeing consumers access to quality, safe products at reasonable prices.

By July 31, 2025, an estimated 4.65 million Malaysian entrepreneurs or sellers are expected to operate on major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop, with 95 percent being local digital entrepreneurs.