Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia has temporarily paused the enforcement of a controversial regulation that would have mandated Bahasa Malaysia for all product listings on major e-commerce platforms. The delay allows authorities time to gather feedback from sellers and rethink the rollout.
According to Malay Mail, Under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024 (CPETTR 2024), effective June 24, platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop were required to ensure that all product titles, descriptions, and seller information were in Bahasa Malaysia, while allowing brand names and additional languages alongside.
Failure to comply could lead to severe penalties—RM50,000 fines or up to 3 years’ jail for individuals, and up to RM100,000 for companies. Repeat offenders risked even steeper consequences.
The rollout announcement drew immediate backlash, with sellers expressing frustration at the short notice and the complexity of translating listings overnight. E-commerce communities decried the move as rushed and burdensome.
In Sarawak, the SUPP youth wing called it “rushed, confusing, and unfair to small businesses,” pointing out the lack of translation support or implementation guidelines.
In response to the pushback, KPDN—the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living—temporarily suspended enforcement, stating it will convene meetings with platform operators and collect seller feedback before setting a new enforcement timeline. However, the regulation remains legally valid; only the deadline is under review.
Moreover, platforms including Shopee and Lazada have begun offering automatic Malay translation tools to assist sellers adapt to the upcoming requirement.
This deferral comes amid a larger overhaul of Malaysia’s e-commerce laws. Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali revealed that a review is underway and expected to be finalised by August 2025, potentially bringing clearer and more balanced policies.
