Information in Consumer Contracts: Reforming Consumer Protection Law in Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the effectiveness of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 in ensuring that Malaysian consumers can make informed decisions and that their interests are adequately protected in modern electronic commerce (e-commerce) transactions. It first identifies the key elements required of a modern consumer protection framework and subsequently uses this model as a yardstick to assess the legal frameworks in two jurisdictions. The first jurisdiction is Malaysia, a common law country that, although considered a potentially important regional player in the development of e-commerce, has a relatively underdeveloped consumer protection framework. The second jurisdiction is England and Wales, which is likewise a common law jurisdiction but one whose consumer protection framework has been influenced by European Union consumer protection policy and legislation that has further provided the impetus for significant legal reform in both offline and online environments. This article examines the extent to which the laws in both jurisdictions provide appropriate protection, considering countervailing issues (eg, protection of commercial innovation and competition) and identifying potential gaps in provision (eg, inadequate regulation of new platforms or business methods). Based on these analyses, the article proposes an ‘evergreen’ consumer protection framework to improve the legal landscape of e-commerce in Malaysia.