Saturday, April 23, 2011

Competition Act and Anti-Profiteering Act

THE Competition Act 2010 and the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Acts 2010 will completely change the way business is conducted in Malaysia if fully implemented as expected by next year as they help pave the way for greater innovation and service to consumers at competitive prices.
The Competition Act 2010 took over 15 years to be implemented in Malaysia due to legacy issues such as industrial policies and protectionism given to selected industries such as the construction and transportation.
The urgency to implement such an Act, albeit later than neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, finally came when it was clear that foreign direct investments into the country had dwindled as a result of previous industrial policies providing protectionism over selected sectors and giving rise to anti-competitive behaviour.The main thrust of the Competition Act is to promote a competitive market environment and provide a level playing field for all players in the market, which in the process will squash anti-competitive practices such as cartels and collusions.
As government-linked companies (GLCs) are said to make up 40% of domestic economic activity, the private sector was only keen for the Competition Act to be implemented if GLCs also fell under the scrutiny of the Act.
The real push for this Act to take place came in 2007 and the initial plan was to have a Fair Trade Practices Bill encompassing elements of the Competition Law. However, this was further refined two years ago to have a standalone Competition Act after the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry consulted a group of 25 interested parties from the private sector as well as government agencies.

Friday, April 15, 2011

SC urges public not to part with monies to unlicensed investment agents


The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) urges the public not to part with monies to unlicensed investment agents, even if recommended by family members and friends.
In this regard, the SC wishes to remind the public that Uzir bin Abdul Samad, (IC No : 720824-01-5543) and UAS Bistari Management Sdn Bhd (806034-H) are not licensed by the SC to carry out any regulated activity including soliciting monies from the public for investment in securities.
The public is reminded to be wary of investment schemes promising unrealistically high returns. Where such schemes are purportedly linked to licensed intermediaries, investors are advised to verify the legitimacy of such schemes with the licensed intermediary concerned or with the SC.
We would like to remind the public that persons who are not licensed by the SC are not allowed to collect monies from others for investment in a portfolio of securities on their behalf. The public is also advised not to invest in the market through the trading accounts of others, including family members and friends. Individual trading accounts are for personal use of the account holder and may not be used for any third party trades.
Anyone carrying out such activities without the requisite licenses can be prosecuted under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 and upon conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.
Source: BizStar