Cheong, May Fong; Lee, Yin Harn --- "Malaysia and Singapore" [2013] ELECD 741; in Williams, Mark (ed), "The Political Economy of Competition Law in Asia" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) 215

Book Title: The Political Economy of Competition Law in Asia

Editor(s): Williams, Mark

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781001677

Section: Chapter 7

Section Title: Malaysia and Singapore

Author(s): Cheong, May Fong; Lee, Yin Harn

Number of pages: 36

Abstract/Description:

Malaysia and Singapore shared a common early history under British rule and were once a single country, albeit for a very short period of about two years before Singapore separated and became a nation state in 1965. As a result of their history, both countries inherited a legal and judicial system which was and still is heavily based on common law subject to, in the case of Malaysia, the growing influence of Islamic law. There are other threads of commonality; the governments of both countries play a significant role in the management of the economy through state-owned enterprises and, more recently, government-linked companies. Due to its significance and impact on competition, this issue will be specifically addressed in this chapter. Both countries also represent small market economies, dependent on foreign investment to different degrees and are active in the ASEAN regional bloc. There are however differences in the physical, socio-political and economic environments of both countries which have influenced and shaped the competition policies and laws of Malaysia and Singapore.