E-Commerce is fast expanding in Asia with total revenue in the Asia Pacific estimated at USD39.4 billion in 2000. This figure increased to more than USD338 billion in 2004. According to a study conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres (an international research agency), more people in the Asia Pacific region are shopping online and six out of nine countries surveyed showed a rise in e-commerce. In May 2002 an average of 35% of people in the Asia Pacific countries surveyed used the Internet. This is four percent more than the worldwide user average of 31%. All these suggest a positive outlook for Asia Pacific e-commerce retailers. Some Statistics on E-Commerce for Malaysia shows:

 Global Internet Population (2002) 655 million 2005

Forecast 941 million

Global E-Commerce Market (2005 Forecast)

Business-To-Business (B2B) RM16.4 trillion (IDC)

Business-To-Consumers (B2C) RM1.1 trillion (IDC)

Malaysian E-Commerce Market (2005 Forecast)

Business-To-Business (B2B) RM29.6 billion (IDC)

Business-To-Consumers (B2C) RM5.7 billion (IDC)

Malaysia was also one of the first countries to introduce a specific set of laws covering the Internet. Known as Cyber Laws, and enacted in 1997, they include the Computer Crimes Act 1997, the Digital Signature Act 1997, and the Telemedicine Act 1997. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 or CMA was also enacted, which saw the set up of a regulatory arm for the Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia namely, the Communications and Multimedia Commission in 1998. This Commission regulates communications and multimedia activities including telecommunications, broadcasting, and more recently, postal services. When asked to respond to what extent the statement/items that referred to provisions in the Act/cyber laws would have a negative or positive impact on the growth of e-commerce, 46.9 per cent perceived that they would have a negative impact on the growth of e-commerce in Malaysia, 12.2 per cent perceived them as having no impact and 34.1 per cent perceived them as having a positive impact on the growth of e-commerce in Malaysia.

My Comment:

I believe that this statistics show the fact that Malaysian present Cyber laws are not enough then it could effect on the expansion of e-commerce in Malaysia. The lacks have to be solve to make sure that Malaysia’s population is not very in trouble on e-commerce matters.

References:

http://mgv.mim.edu.my/MMR/0106/010604.Htm

 www.matrade.gov.my/e-commerce/fact_figure.htm