Ministry to review laws to combat online transaction fraud
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs will review existing consumer protection laws to combat rising trend in online transaction fraud.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said fraud, especially those related to online business, now ranked second on the list of complaints received by the ministry and the issue could not be underestimated, especially in terms of enforcement.
“These online traders are not just those under the auspices of dominant entities like Shopee or Lazada.
“So, the definition of online sales is not just confined to a company ... it can also be an individual..and there we have difficulty in enforcing the laws,” he told reporters after a luncheon held in conjunction with the Shopee Kongsi Fa Cai 2019 campaign here yesterday.
Although the ministry has a consumer tribunal to address consumer issues, Saifuddin attributed the downside of the enforcement to the ineffectiveness of the current laws.
“One of the shortcomings is a notice must be served physically in order for the person being complained can be charged in a tribunal case after the consumer has lodged a complaint and the ministry has investigated the matter,” he said.
Hence, he said the ministry along with legal advisers would review the existing legal clauses, while industry players could also give their views on ways to counter online business frauds.
Meanwhile, Shopee Malaysia business head Zed Li said it already has a system called “Shopee Guarantee” to ensure Malaysia has the right infrastructure and service in online business.
“In essence, we will hold the money from the seller until the buyer has received the products. Now that gives protection to the buyer as well.
“Actually, on top of that, if there is a dispute between the buyer and the seller, Shopee will come in and solve the problem for them,” he said, adding that Shopee would continue to work with the ministry in safeguarding consumer rights, as well as expanding the e-commerce industry.