# Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN)

> KPDN is Malaysia's federal ministry for domestic trade, consumer protection and cost-of-living control — enforcing price and anti-profiteering laws and overseeing agencies like SSM, MyIPO and MyCC.

- Category: government
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-14
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/government/ministry-of-domestic-trade-kpdn

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When a trader overcharges you for cooking oil, sells a controlled item above its ceiling price, or refuses to honour a faulty product, the federal body whose job is to act on your behalf is **KPDN** — the **Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living** (*Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup*). It develops domestic trade, keeps a lid on the prices of everyday essentials, and protects consumers, backed by real statutes, live complaint channels, and a small-claims tribunal built for ordinary shoppers.

## What is KPDN and what is it for?

KPDN was **established on 27 October 1990**. Its stated objective is to promote a domestic trade that is "viable, competitive and sustainable," especially in the distributive-trade sector, while protecting the interests and rights of consumers. In practice its work falls into two halves: formulating trade policy — including determining and monitoring the prices of essential goods and controlling the sale and distribution of essential goods, petroleum and petrochemical products — and consumerism, which covers consumer education, awareness, protection, and support for the consumer movement.

The ministry adopted its current name, adding the "Cost of Living" emphasis, in **December 2022**. Its headquarters is at No. 13, Persiaran Perdana, Precinct 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62623 Putrajaya. The minister is **Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali**, who has led the ministry since 30 July 2023.

## Which laws does KPDN use to keep prices in check?

KPDN and its agencies administer a body of trade and consumer legislation. The statutes an ordinary Malaysian is most likely to feel are these:

| Act | What it does for you |
| --- | --- |
| Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 [Act 723] | Sets price ceilings, requires price display, and acts against unreasonably high profits |
| Control of Supplies Act 1961 [Act 122] | Controls the sale and distribution of scheduled essential goods |
| Consumer Protection Act 1999 [Act 599] | Protects consumers and establishes the claims tribunal |
| Trade Descriptions Act 2011 [Act 730] | Bans false or misleading trade descriptions |
| Competition Act 2010 [Act 712] | Prohibits cartels and abuse of market dominance |
| Weights and Measures Act 1972 [Act 71] | Ensures honest measurement in trade |
| Franchise Act 1998 [Act 590] | Registers and regulates franchises |

Using Act 122 and Act 723, KPDN works to stabilise the prices of essentials such as rice, eggs, cooking oil and chicken. It runs enforcement operations including **Ops Pantau** and **Ops Menu**, and imposes festive **Maximum Price Schemes** (*Skim Harga Maksimum Musim Perayaan*) that cap the prices of selected controlled items during celebrations — as during the October 2025 Deepavali scheme. Under Section 10 of Act 723, the minister can require any seller of goods or services to display prices.

## How do you actually use KPDN when you are cheated?

You do not need a lawyer to start. KPDN accepts consumer complaints through several channels:

- **Call centre:** 1-800-886-800
- **WhatsApp:** 019-848 8000
- **e-Aduan portal:** eaduan.kpdn.gov.my
- **Email:** e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my
- **App:** the Ez ADU KPDN smartphone application

For disputes over money — a defective product, a service not delivered, an unfair charge — there is the **Tribunal for Consumer Claims (TTPM)**. Established on **15 November 1999** under Section 85, Part XII of the Consumer Protection Act 1999, it hears claims **not exceeding RM50,000** at a fraction of the cost and formality of the courts.

## Which agencies sit under KPDN?

Much of the ministry's day-to-day regulation is carried out by statutory bodies under its umbrella:

- **SSM** — Companies Commission of Malaysia (company and business registration)
- **MyIPO** — Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (patents, trademarks, copyright)
- **MyCC** — Malaysia Competition Commission
- **SKM** — Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission
- **MKM** — Co-operative College of Malaysia
- **PNS** — Perbadanan Nasional Berhad
- **Bank Rakyat** — Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad

## What's next

If you have been overcharged or misled, gather your receipt and evidence and lodge a complaint through one of the channels above; for a monetary dispute up to RM50,000, prepare to file at the TTPM. For company or trademark matters, go straight to the relevant agency — **SSM** for businesses, **MyIPO** for intellectual property.

## Sources

- Latar Belakang - KPDN — https://www.kpdn.gov.my/ms/info-korporat/latar-belakang (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))
- Fungsi KPDN (Function KPDN) — https://www.kpdn.gov.my/en/corporate-info/function-kpdn (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))
- Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Domestic_Trade_and_Costs_of_Living (Wikipedia)
- Cabinet reshuffle: Armizan to continue helming Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry — https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/12/12/cabinet-reshuffle-armizan-to-continue-helming-domestic-trade-and-cost-of-living-ministry (The Star)
- Anti-profiteering - KPDN — https://www.kpdn.gov.my/en/faq/anti-profiteering (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))
- Tribunal For Consumer Claims - KPDN — https://www.kpdn.gov.my/en/faq/tribunal-for-consumer-claims (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))
- eAduan - e-Aduan KPDN — https://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my/login (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))
- Protecting Consumers - KPDN — https://www.kpdn.gov.my/en/submenu/enforcement-submenu/protecting-consumers (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN))

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