Kuala lumpur: The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) will be empowered to offer cash rewards to whistleblowers and grant greater reductions in financial penalties to enterprises that admit liability early under the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026, aimed at strengthening action against cartel activities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali announced that the proposed amendments would equip MyCC with more robust enforcement tools. This includes the introduction of Section 64B, which provides financial rewards to whistleblowers whose information leads to the detection of cartel arrangements.
The Bill also introduces a Settlement Offer mechanism under Section 38A, allowing enterprises that acknowledge liability at an early stage to enjoy an increased reduction of up to 40 percent in financial penalties. Datuk Armizan emphasized that this mechanism is essential for optimizing the Commission's resources, reducing the need for lengthy investigative procedures, and minimizing the risk of litigation after final decisions are issued.
He further stated that the proposed introduction of new Sections 64A and 64B would establish a dedicated framework for whistleblower protection and financial rewards, as the existing Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 does not apply to competition cases, which are civil in nature. The amendments aim to ensure absolute protection for whistleblowers in civil competition cases by broadening the definition of misconduct beyond disciplinary offenses or criminal acts.
Additionally, the amendments will expand the definition of "enterprise" to cover all economic activities, providing MyCC with the legal authority to investigate industry associations involved in cartel arrangements related to price-fixing, market-sharing, or output restrictions.
The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed at the policy stage and will proceed to the committee stage on Monday, followed by the second reading of the Competition Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026, which is also scheduled for the same day.