Procurement, Consumer Credit And Anti-Dumping Bills Passed Reflecting The MADANI Reform Agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) — The Dewan Rakyat ends the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament today after sitting for 24 days, reflecting the MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthen the integrity of fiscal governance, protect local industries from unfair trade practices and create more comprehensive consumer credit regulation.

The commitment was expressed through the passage of three bills — namely the Consumer Credit Bill 2025 and the Government Procurement Bill 2025, both under the Ministry of Finance, as well as the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill 2025 under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) — during the session that began on July 21.

All three bills are in line with the institutional reform agenda under the MADANI Economy framework, thus forming the legal basis towards a more transparent, fair and sustainable economy.

This session began with a debate on the country’s credit landscape when the Dewan Rakyat unanimously approved the Consumer Credit Bill (CCB) 2025.

The bill, which was tabled for the second and third reading by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, aims to strengthen regulation of the lending system, including the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) scheme, which recorded 102.6 million transactions in the first half of 2025.

Under the CCB, a Consumer Credit Commission (CCC) will be established to regulate credit businesses, which currently operate without a licence or specific monitoring.

Over the following week, several issues related to fiscal management and investment were also raised. MITI announced that approved investments from January 2024 to March 2025 reached RM474.2 billion, including in the data centre sector (RM144.4 billion).

The Dewan Rakyat was also informed of artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments totalling RM3.29 billion that had been approved, with a target of contributing 25.5 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Meanwhile, the government decided not to continue with the implementation of the high-value goods tax (HVGT), but the principles behind the imposition of the HVGT have been incorporated into the sales tax review, which will see luxury and choice goods taxed at five or 10 per cent.

Towards the end of August, the focus of the parliament session shifted to legislative reforms related to fair trade and government procurement.

The Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was passed on Aug 26 after its second reading by Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, aims to ensure fair trade in an atmosphere of tariffs and concerns over the multilateralism system under the World Trade Organisation.

In the same week, the Dewan Rakyat also passed the Government Procurement Bill 2025 which was tabled for the second reading by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The bill introduces a more transparent check and balance mechanism in the government procurement process, including limiting the powers of the Finance Minister and strengthening the role of the Procurement Board in the appointment and approval of procurement.

The bill also stole the limelight when it was passed with 125 MPs voting in favour, one abstention and 32 absent on the last day of the sitting (Aug 28).

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the drafting of the bill was a continuation of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 and complemented the Financial Procedure Act 1957 to strengthen the country’s fiscal management.

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil described the passage of the bill as proof that the MADANI Government has a strong majority in the Dewan Rakyat despite being frequently challenged by the opposition.

Overall, the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament, which was adjourned on Thursday, approved 19 bills as well as the 13th Malaysia Plan.

— BERNAMA

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