By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 22: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch has slammed the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) for enforcing a policy requiring all product names and descriptions on e-commerce platforms to be written in Bahasa Malaysia (BM), saying the move is rushed, confusing, and ignores Sarawak’s unique status.
SUPP Kuching Branch publicity and information secretary Bong Siak Peng said the regulation, set to take effect on June 24, 2025, under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024, was implemented without proper planning or support for online sellers—many of whom are small businesses and young entrepreneurs.
“If individuals break this rule, they could be fined up to RM50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. Repeat offenders could face fines of up to RM100,000 and up to five years in jail.
“Companies could be fined RM100,000 for a first offence and up to RM200,000 for repeat violations,” Bong said in a statement today.
He questioned the Ministry’s decision to roll out the regulation with less than a week’s notice and without providing clear instructions, proper translation tools, or technical assistance.
“Many small businesses and young entrepreneurs—especially those selling on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop—usually write product descriptions in English.
“Now they’re scrambling to adapt, while foreign sellers are also struggling with translation issues, causing widespread confusion,” he added.
Although KPDN’s enforcement director Dato’ Azman Adam has since announced the policy’s postponement following public backlash, Bong believes it is merely a delay, not a solution—likening it to the ‘boiling frog syndrome,’ where stalling now only leads to the same outcome later.
Bong also argued that e-commerce is inherently global and largely conducted in English, and that the Ministry’s insistence on using only Bahasa Malaysia amounts to self-isolation.
He questioned whether the policy encroaches on Sarawak’s constitutional rights, noting that English remains an official language in the State’s government, education and commerce sectors.
“Forcing Sarawak-based e-commerce operators to use only Malay could be seen as eroding these rights,” he stressed.
Bong also took aim at Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP), accusing the party of remaining silent on the issue despite claiming to play the role of a check and balance.
“Has the Sarawak DAP succumbed to pressure from its central leadership? At this critical juncture, are they merely playing the role of a ‘silent partner’?” he questioned. — DayakDaily
