“WHY shouldn’t I? It’s flavourful, suited for local taste buds and relatively cheaper,” says 28-year-old Noraina Salam, an engineer from Shah Alam, when asked if she prefers local coffee over an imported brand.

“While I will go for anything good, there are just some local brands I prioritise for things such as food, clothing and appliances. You know that chocolate wafer with the red wrapping? I like that one.

“If imported goods are getting expensive, then buy local,” says Noraina, who is among a growing number of Malaysian consumers appreciating local goods.

For consumers like Noraina, buying local is more than just a preference; it’s becoming a practical response to rising import costs and global economic uncertainty.

With the increasing likelihood of a global trade war driving up the cost of imported goods further – especially with US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariff on every nation of the world” expected to be imposed on April 2 – many Malaysians, like Noraina, are re-evaluating their purchasing decisions. While Malaysia may not face direct tariffs, prices will be affected, and consumer groups are highlighting the opportunity for local industries to step up and meet demand.

Several consumer associations note that Malaysia already has competitive sectors, including food and electronics, both in price and quality.

“But buying Malaysian-made goods can strengthen local industries, create jobs, and cut reliance on imports, especially during global trade uncertainty,” says Tarmizi Anuwar, country associate for Malaysia at the Consumer Choice Centre.

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SMALL businesses nationwide are preparing for a major transition as Malaysia moves towards mandatory e-invoicing.

Beginning July 1, all taxpayers, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) – both brick-and-mortar and online – are required to implement e-invoicing.

While digital transformation is essential for economic progress, many micro-entrepreneurs and small traders face immediate challenges in adapting to the new system.

To ease the transition, the government has exempted physical businesses with annual sales below RM150,000 from e-invoicing requirements.

However, this exemption does not extend to online sellers regardless of their revenue size – a regulatory inconsistency that has sparked concern among industry groups and small business owners.

Towards this end, the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) has urged the government to raise the exemption threshold to RM300,000, thus aligning it with the official definition of micro-enterprises.

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The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) has called on the Government to review and amend Malaysia’s e-invoicing framework, urging authorities to exempt small online businesses earning RM150,000 or less annually.

Under current policy, small physical businesses with similar revenue thresholds are exempt, but online businesses are still required to comply with e-invoicing obligations. CCC argues that this disparity places unnecessary burdens on small digital entrepreneurs, potentially increasing costs for consumers and limiting market variety.

Malaysia Country Associate at CCC, Tarmizi Anuwar, said, “As a consumer association, we are deeply concerned that the current e-invoicing policy unfairly penalises small online sellers, many of whom are everyday Malaysians trying to earn an honest living. It is not reasonable that small physical shops are exempt, yet online businesses operating at the same scale are forced to bear additional compliance costs and administrative burdens.”

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Keputusan kerajaan memperkenalkan garis panduan harga rujukan bagi perkhidmatan kurier yang berkuat kuasa pada 1 Dis lalu menimbulkan persoalan utama: siapa yang sebenarnya dilindungi oleh dasar tersebut? 

Dengan kenaikan harga minimum penghantaran bagi bungkusan di bawah 2kg daripada RM4 kepada RM5, maka pengguna – terutamanya perniagaan kecil dan peniaga dalam talian – bakal menanggung beban kos yang lebih tinggi.

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The future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the independent agency charged with for enhancing consumer protections and fighting financial harm, remains unclear, as the current administration works toward potentially dismantling the bureau.

A judge has already halted efforts to fire CFPB employees, return funds, and delete data or records pending a preliminary injunction hearing for March 3. Advocacy organizations have expressed concern over the long-term consequences of what this means for the future, especially as the agency’s enforcement activities have returned $19 billion to consumers.

“Consumers depend on the CFPB to be the cop on the beat to protect them from fraudsters,” said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunication, and fraud, at National Consumers League.

But as consumers wait on the outcome of the bureau’s future, where can they turn when they are victimized?

Advocates say a lot of the work will be up to the consumer and the states in which they reside.

“State attorneys general play a critical role in protecting consumers in their states,” Breyault said.

Each state has a consumer protection office tasked with investigating scams, fraud, and handling complaints against businesses. But, per a January report released by the CFPB, which has worked jointly with states to protect consumers, they recommend that states update their laws and regulations to keep pace with evolving risks.

Despite what’s happening with the CFPB, Breyault encourages consumers to continue filing complaints with the CFPB.

“They are accepting complaints,” he said. But he is unsure who is triaging those complaints and whether there will be any action, and advises against sharing sensitive information such as bank account numbers when filing a complaint.

Yaël Ossowski, deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center, said that in addition to state attorneys general, consumers can pursue legal remedies via state banking commissions, private rights of action, and the Comissão Federal de Comércio.

“Even with a restrained CFPB, consumers can continue to protect themselves from frauds and scams by staying vigilant and using technological tools and verification to avoid sending money or payments to unauthorized recipients,” Ossowski said. “Hackers and fraudsters are very sophisticated, and unfortunately many are criminal actors abroad, but consumer education is the key to stopping the fraud.

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