Earlier, it was reported by the Malaysia Gazette that major e-commerce platforms had told sellers to provide product descriptions in Bahasa Malaysia and update their online listings to comply with the upcoming regulations.
The ruling, which was supposed to take effect on June 24 under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024 (CPETTR 2024), mainly targeted local and international sellers who only used English in their product descriptions.
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The new rule will be put on hold
Meanwhile, the Daily Express reported that CPETTR 2024 was meant to improve consumer protection in online shopping.
Under the rule, online sellers have to include accurate business details, including their name, contact information, and business address. It also requires all product titles and descriptions to be in Bahasa Malaysia, although brand names can stay in their original language.
After the announcement sparked backlash, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living clarified that the Malay-language listing rule for major e-commerce platforms will be put on hold.
They also said they’ll be meeting with platform operators to discuss the issue and gather feedback.
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Sellers called on the government to give clearer guidelines
Sellers of certain products would also need to show proper certifications to prove compliance with safety standards.
Not following these rules could get individuals fined up to RM50,000 or jailed for three years for a first offence, while companies could be fined up to RM100,000. Repeat offenders might end up with double the punishment.
According to a letter signed by the ministry’s Director of Enforcement, Datuk Azman Adam, the implementation timeline will now be reviewed based on feedback from platform operators.
No new date has been set yet, but many sellers are urging the government to give clearer guidelines, proper tech support, and a more flexible approach.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!
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