Event

Event

 

Conference on Challenges in Enforcing Competition Law in Malaysia and Possible Reform

27 Nov 2018 - Tue / 1 day / 9:00am - 5:00pm / Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium Wisma Badan Peguam Malaysia (Formerly known as Wisma Straits Trading) Unit 2-02A, 2nd Floor 2 Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur

This Conference — which promises to be a defining event of the Bar Council and the Malaysia Competition Commission (“MyCC”) — is not to be missed. Apart from covering the current state of competition law in Malaysia, it will also address possible reform that is on the horizon. Crucially, it will discuss MyCC’s position on the existence of certain monopolies over goods or services in Malaysia and the possible introduction of merger control, and the implications for corporate Malaysia and legal practice.

Member: RM 300
Members admitted from 1 July 2011: RM 80
Law Student: RM 80
Pupil in Chambers: RM 80
Non-Member: RM 450
Organisers: Bar Council, Malaysian Competition Commission

CPD Points: 6
Event Code:
T3/27112018/BC/BC181370/4

Description

Registration for the event will begin at 8:15 am

This Conference — which promises to be a defining event of the Bar Council and the Malaysia Competition Commission (“MyCC”) — is not to be missed. Apart from covering the current state of competition law in Malaysia, it will also address possible reform that is on the horizon. Crucially, it will discuss MyCC’s position on the existence of certain monopolies over goods or services in Malaysia and the possible introduction of merger control, and the implications for corporate Malaysia and legal practice.

The introduction of merger control would bring a sea change in legal practice relating to transactional and deal work. In
jurisdictions with merger control, over 2017 and 2018 alone the following large transactions are noteworthy:

  • In early November 2018, Disney’s USD71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox was only approved by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition (“DG Comp”) subject to Disney selling off its entire business and interests in European history and documentary television channels;
  • The fifth attempt at the merger of the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse (valued at EUR29 billion) was blocked by DG Comp due to competition concerns that the proposed merger may create a de facto monopoly; and
  • In 2017, Facebook was fined EUR110 million for providing incorrect or misleading information during DG Comp’s investigation of Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp.

This Conference will also feature the new Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, the new Chairman of MyCC, and
the new Chief Executive Officer of MyCC. Come and interact with the enforcers and other practitioners of competition law to get an insight into the latest trends and current themes, issues and cases in competition law. Also, find out more about the Competition Appeals Tribunal (“COMPAT”), MyCC’s leniency programme, and other guidelines and policies.

This Conference is a must-attend event for all members whose legal practice may be affected by these developments.

Programme Outline
(Each session includes a question-and-answer segment)

8:15 am
Registration and Breakfast

9:00 am
National Anthem: “Negaraku”

9:05 am
Welcoming Address

9:10 am
Opening Speech
by YB Dato’ Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs

9:20 am
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding: MyCC with Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia

9:35 am
Refreshments

9:50 am
Introductory Remarks
by Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus, Chairman, MyCC

10:00 am
Session 1: Cartels and Leniency
MyCC has made the fighting of cartels as its highest priority, because the effect of cartels on the unwitting consumer is devastating. On the one hand, the Malaysians who generally realise the negative effect of cartels are unable to pinpoint who is responsible and how to deal with this issue. On the other hand, some business enterprises continue to be unaware that their common practices infringe the Competition Act 2010 (“Act”), and regard cartels as normal business practice. It is also critical to recognise that competition regulators around the globe have been promoting leniency to those who admit their wrongful conduct and, in Malaysia, section 41 of the Act allows enterprises to apply for leniency by admitting their infringement under section 4, where they then provide significant assistance to MyCC. A penalty reduction of up to 100% can be granted, based on the circumstances of the case. This session will focus on how to move forward in this area.

Speaker: Zairan Ishak, Principal Assistant Director, Enforcement Division, MyCC

11:15 am
Session 2: Powers of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Speaker: Assoc Prof Dr Wan Liza Md Amin @ Fahmy, Competition Appeal Tribunal

12:15 pm
Lunch

1:45 pm
Session 3: Monopoly Forum
MyCC is part of the Jawatankuasa Bagi Kajian Semula Dasar Monopoli Perkhidmatan dan Pembekalan tasked to address issues stemming from certain monopolies such as MyEG, BERNAS, Pharmaniaga, and Puspakom. MyCC has investigated suspected abusive monopolies, and this has resulted in issuance of decisions against MyEG and Megasteel. But is this enough? Some monopolistic / oligopolistic enterprises in Malaysia are created based on Government policies, which may need to be reviewed.

Panellists:
Dominique Lombardi, Partner, Competition & Antitrust and Trade, Rajah & Tann Singapore
Adlin Abdul Majid, Partner, Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
Dr Wan Khatina Nawawi, Director of Economics, Malaysian Aviation Commission
Adlan Abd Razak, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA
Rohizwan Ahmad, Legal Director, JT International Sdn Bhd

Moderator:
Wong Tat Chung, Partner, Messrs Wong, Beh & Toh

3:15 pm
Session 4: Mergers Control Forum
Consumers realise the negative effects of monopolistic enterprises that abuse their power to control the market. The lack of choices, increase in prices, and exclusivity of agreements and abusive conduct will continue unless there is regulation of mergers and acquisitions. This is especially the case where mergers end up granting monopolistic powers to selected companies. Currently, the Securities Commission is entrusted with the responsibility of regulating and systematically developing Malaysia’s capital markets, including takeovers, mergers, and compulsory acquisition. The Securities Commission is ultimately responsible to investors, and it seeks to encourage and promote the development of the securities and futures markets in Malaysia, albeit without exploring competition issues.

MyCC is currently working with the ASEAN region competition authorities to implement the three tenets of competition law enforcement: anti-competitive agreements, monopolistic abuse, and merger controls. In this direction, extensive studies are being conducted on how to amend the Act in order to allow MyCC to respond to the merger and acquisition activities in Malaysia, and to take action against those organisations that negatively impact competition by the process of merger and acquisition.

Case studies will include the Grab-Uber merger.

Panellists:
Iskandar Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, MyCC
Dr Wan Khatina Nawawi, Director of Economics, Malaysia Aviation Commission
Anand Raj, Partner, Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co.

Moderator:
Devanesan Evanson, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, Minority Shareholders
Watch Group

Speaker

Speakers' details are currently not available.

Terms and Conditions

Places are limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For events with registration fees, all payments must be made in advance, including bank charges. Registration will be confirmed once proof of payment is provided by email or fax, and full payment is received.

For events that are not organised by Bar Council, please note that you are subject to the relevant terms and conditions specified by the external providers.

Cancellation 

Cancellations must be made in writing at least 48 hours prior to the event.

If you have failed to inform the organiser on your cancellation for three consecutive times, you may be blacklisted for future events.

Refunds 

Refunds will be processed after the event is completed. This may take up to 30 business days. The conditions for refunds are as follows:

  • Full refunds will be issued if the cancellation is notified to the organiser three business days before the event.
  • No refunds will be issued if the cancellation is notified to the organiser less than three business days from the event.

The organiser reserves the right to modify, cancel or postpone the event, should circumstances arise that make such action necessary, whereupon all registration fees paid will be refunded.

Transferral

You are allowed to transfer your place to another participant, but you must notify the organiser with the necessary details.

Attendance 

CPD points will not be awarded to lawyers and pupils in chambers from Peninsular Malaysia who arrive more than 15 minutes late, are not present throughout the event, or leave before its scheduled end.

Privacy 

The personal information that you provide to the Bar Council, whether now or in the future, may be used, recorded, stored, disclosed or otherwise processed by or on behalf of the Bar Council for the purposes of facilitation and organisation of this event, research and audit, maintenance of a participant database for the promotion of this event, and such ancillary services as may be relevant.

Disclaimer

  • Materials will be emailed only. No printed notes will be provided.
  • No recording of the event is permitted via any means at any time.
  • No part of the event content may be used/reproduced in any form without the written and explicit consent of the Bar Council and speaker(s).

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