RM97.3mil in penalties imposed on 26 bid-rigging cartel firms

RM97.3mil in penalties imposed on 26 bid-rigging cartel firms

Armizan Mohd Ali says MyCC is now investigating 14 other cases involving 563 companies, linked to tenders worth RM2.7 billion.

ARMIZAN MOHD ALI
Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali called for MyCC to extend enforcement against bid-rigging to the private sector next year. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has imposed penalties totalling RM97.3 million on 26 companies for operating a bid-rigging cartel related to tenders worth RM540.72 million.

Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said MyCC is currently investigating 14 other bid-rigging cases involving 563 companies, linked to tenders worth RM2.7 billion.

He said the high number of cases uncovered by MyCC demonstrated the need for the increased resources approved in the 2026 budget announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“A portion of the ministry’s allocation was assigned to MyCC specifically to boost its enforcement capacity in the crucial fight against bid-rigging,” Bernama reported him as saying after officiating the MyCC Competition Summit at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today.

Armizan called for MyCC to take the next step and extend enforcement against bid-rigging to the private sector next year.

“To date, the focus has been on tenders within government procurement. However, we must also pioneer efforts in 2026 by scrutinising private sector tenders.

“If we do not curb bid-rigging in the private sector, it will negatively impact the public and harm the ecosystem of healthy market competition,” he said.

Armizan said his ministry is also helping to coordinate the signing of a letter of understanding between MyCC and 16 other ministries to combat bid-rigging cartels.

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