RM415.5 Million Fine Imposed on Chicken Producers for Cartel Activities, Over 500 Companies Under Investigation: Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) imposed financial penalties amounting to RM415.5 million last year on five major chicken producers in Malaysia for involvement in cartel activities, according to the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

In a statement yesterday, Datuk Armizan also revealed that RM1.5 million in financial penalties were imposed on 15 companies for bid-rigging. “At the same time, MyCC issued three proposed decisions involving 92 companies and one final decision against seven companies based on evidence of their involvement in bid-rigging cartels,” he said.

Currently, MyCC is investigating over 500 companies suspected of bid-rigging in relation to government tenders valued at RM2.3 billion.

To strengthen MyCC’s capacity to combat cartel activities, the government has allocated RM27 million to the commission under the 2025 Budget — the highest allocation since its establishment in 2011.

As part of efforts to bolster the enforcement of competition laws, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) organized a symposium titled “Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Drivers of Market Distortion.” The event discussed critical issues such as bid-rigging in public procurement, rising food prices, merger controls, and the dominance of digital economy players.