SUBANG JAYA: The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) has called for all online sellers operating on e-commerce marketplaces to register their businesses to boost customers’ confidence.
SSM marketing and business development division director Farid Ahmad said as part of its SSM-ONE (Online Networking Entreprenuers) flagship programme, SSM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lazada in May to make business registration with SSM compulsory before these operators can sell on the marketplace.
He was speaking to reporters at a press conference after the launch of #EveryoneCanSell programme during the E-Commerce Seller Conference 2017 organised by Lazada, in cooperation from SSM as one of its partners.
The programme aimed to further spur the growth of local small and medium enterprises in the country and to attract more merchants to join Lazada.
The event was attended by about 2,000 participants including industry players in courier services, finance, telecommunication, networking and business solutions.
It was officiated by International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan. Also present was Lazada Malaysia chief executive officer Hans Peter Ressel.
Farid said besides Lazada, SSM is also looking into working with other marketplaces like 11street to have a similar arrangement.
“This will help to protect the customers’ interest and to have more ethical sellers,” he said.
Farid said by having businesses registered with SSM, companies will have to comply with all related regulations.
“It will also allow us to track the companies to address any reports or complaints,” he said.
He said this will ultimately protect the consumers as laws could then be effectively enforced.
Farid said registered businesses will also have more opportunities to get assistance from financial institutions or government agencies to expand their businesses.
“It will also reaffirm their commitment towards conducting businesses in compliance with regulations,” he said.
He said SSM regulates businesses based on Registration of Businesses Act 1956, Companies Act 2016, and Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012.
“To register for business, the business owners need to go to SSM to provide their thumbprints. After that initial step, all transactions can be done online,” he said.
Farid said SSM has also launched SSM BizTrust in July where registered online sellers can get a BizTrust certificate and have the BizTrust standard certification seal or logo displayed on their website.
He said this move was to curb any illegal activities by online sellers who had set up businesses with a purpose to dupe customers by offering non-existing products or poor quality goods and services.
“The logo is exclusive to one website address only. A genuine logo will display the business registration certificate when we click on it,” he said.
Farid said at present, the BizTrust logo is given free until September 30 to encourage more online sellers with websites to register for the product.
After the introductory period fees will be imposed at RM50 for Stage 1 of the product, RM1,000 (Stage 2) and RM1,700 (Stage 3) per year.
“Beginning 2019, the fees will be RM200 (Stage 1), RM1,500 (Stage 2) and RM2,500 (Stage 3) per year,” he said.
Farid said as of August 31 this year, there were 6.6 million registered as sole proprietor and partnership, 1.2 million Sdn Bhd and Bhd companies, and 12,420 Limited Liability Partnerships.
He said from these three categories, there were about 57,072 registered online businesses.
For BizTrust registration with SSM, visit www.ssm.com.my/en/biztrust