THE Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has proposed a RM86 million fine against e-hailing provider Grab for breaching anti-monopoly laws.

In a decision by MyCC this morning, Grab can present its defence within 30 days.

In the meantime, the company will be subjected to a daily RM15,000 penalty today onwards.

MyCC chief executive officer Iskandar Ismail said this is a proposed decision and not final.

“We have just completed investigations. This is a proposed decision, not final.

“Grab will have the opportunity to present its defence and then we will decide if there are infringements or not.”

He said Grab had abused its dominant position by imposing a number of restrictive clauses on its drivers.

It had prevented them from promoting and providing advertising services for Grab’s competitors in the e-hailing and transit media advertising market.

The regulator conducted a probe following accusations of the Singapore-based company’s monopolistic practices after its takeover of rival Uber’s Southeast Asian operations in March last year.

Grab had said the acquisition was made in good faith, with the aim of providing more benefits to consumers.

A spokesman said the firm is not aware of any breach of competition laws.

“To date, we have fully cooperated with MyCC in its request for information, and have not been made aware of any breach of competition laws since the acquisition in March 2018,” said in a statement last week.

Singapore, meanwhile, has fined Grab and Uber S$13 million (RM39.4 million), on top of imposing several measures, to counter similar concerns.

Philippines, too, has slapped a fine of 16 million pesos (RM1.3 million) on the two companies for violating its competition regulator’s conditions. – October 3, 2019.