NEWS: More clout for e-commerce act

PETALING JAYA: The Electronic Commerce Act will be finetuned by inserting more information to protect consumers who conduct business transactions using the Internet.

Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the insertions would be brought to Parliament for tabling in March.

“This has to be done because currently, in terms of action, penalty, etc, they are under the Consumers Protection Act,” he told reporters after opening the Co-operative College of Malaysia’s (MKM) Open Day and a discourse on business through the Internet at the college here.

Earlier in his speech, Ismail expressed the need for co-operative movement to keep abreast with current developments in information and communications technology (ICT).

“Today, the co-operative movement should be able to carry out business using the Internet and portals,” he said.

He said ICT developments, especially the Internet, have opened a new dimension and medium for business in Malaysia and the world.

“Previously, (budget airline) Air Asia monopolises ticket sales through the Internet. Now, more companies are using the Internet for their business transactions and this phenomena is growing rapidly,” he said.

At the function, Ismail handed a mock cheque for RM30,000 from Malaysian Co-operative Commission executive chairman Datuk Mangsor Saad to the MKM. — Bernama