The 8th East Asia Top Level Officials’ Meeting on Competition Law and Policy
Welcome Remarks By The Hon. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Siti Norma Yaakob Chairman Of The Malaysia Competition Commission
Date: 3 May 2012
WELCOME REMARKS BY THE HON. TAN SRI DATO’ SERI SITI NORMA YAAKOB
CHAIRMAN OF THE MALAYSIA COMPETITION COMMISSION
THE 8TH EAST ASIA TOP LEVEL OFFICIALS’ MEETING ON COMPETITION LAW AND POLICY
SHERATON IMPERIAL KUALA LUMPUR HOTEL
3 MAY 2012 (WEDNESDAY) 9.00 AM
Bismilla-hirrahma-nirrahim
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah Hiwabarakatuh
Mr Kazuhiko Takeshima
Chairman of Japan Fair Trade Commission
Dr. Yuqing Xing
CBT Director of Asian Development Bank Institute
Mr Shiow-Ming Wu
Chairman of Chinese Taipei Fair Trade Commission
Distinguished Officials from the East Asia Economies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good morning and I trust that you had a good night’s rest after last night’s show of Malaysian culture as well as the sing along.
To continue where we left off yesterday after the observations and exchanges of views, we are here today at the 8th East Asia Top-Level Officials Meeting exclusively for officials’ of the competition agencies and authorities. This dedicated meeting is aimed to discuss the challenges East Asia economies face, in enforcing their respective competition laws and discuss ways, to foster closer cooperation on competition policy and law.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
After having successfully gone through the passing of the law, MyCC is now faced with a bigger and real challenge which is to ensure the effective implementation of the Competition Act 2010.
Therefore, the meeting this morning could not have been more timely as it is imperative for Malaysia to gain and learn the experiences from other more matured competition jurisdictions. While each fact of a case may be different, the application of the principles and analyses will no doubt be the same from which a new jurisdiction like ours can surely benefit.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I mentioned in my opening remarks yesterday, the fight against cartel is a global agenda. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and The International Competition Network (ICN) for example have been at the forefront of policy in relation to cartels. This in itself reflects that cartels are often international in nature, unbefitting the systems of competition law which for the most part are purely national in scope. Besides advocating for larger penalties, the OECD had also stressed the need for greater cooperation in combating cartels which as noted earlier, often transcend national boundaries. One of our sessions today will focus on the enforcement and legal reforms that member economies have undertaken last year, and we hope that through our discussions, both yesterday and today, issues which have a common thread running through, will give an insight to agencies on ways and means to handle anti-competitive practices in a more effective manner.
Another important area of focus for many competition agencies is that of outreach activities. The MyCC has also undertaken to emphasis this area on the presumption that awareness of the law and the benefits it brings about, will lead to greater compliance. Advocacy therefore plays a key role in the early stages of enforcement. The session on outreach activity today will allow officials to share the activities undertaken by them in their own jurisdictions and how these initiatives have helped eradicate cartel activities. There is much to be learned from this session and I sincerely hope that the key takeaways will assist member economies to improve their outreach programmes which MyCC looks forward to.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I conclude, allow me to stress the importance of this meeting where information sharing, among competition officials from the East Asia economies especially on the latest techniques as well as challenges faced in competition law enforcement are exchanged. I sincerely hope it helps to build a closer competition fraternity among East Asia member economies and facilitate cooperation to combat cross-border cartels in the region. What I feel is more important is the networking among top level officials, to keep the link between us and to foster closer working relationships. This is a more effective way to build a platform for cooperation, not only for the future but for the present too.
Wabillahitaufikwalhidayah, wassalamualikum w.b.t.
Thank you.