KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24): MY E.G. Services Bhd (MyEG) says it will appeal the RM9.34 million penalty imposed by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC), because it has already conformed to the changes required by the anti-competition watchdog.

MyCC slapped the penalty on the e-government services provider for abusing its dominant position in the provision of services related to online foreign worker permit renewals.

In its second filing on the issue today, MyEG said it has been in continuous engagement with MyCC to ensure it had not been abusing its dominant position in the provision of its services.

“The group had on Dec 5, 2018 received written notice from MyCC on steps to be taken by the group to tweak the user flow on its website. Accordingly, on Dec 7, the group responded in writing, stating its agreement to make the required changes as per MyCC’s recommendations.

"Nevertheless, in consideration of there having been no earlier notice given on the additional requirements prior to the aforementioned letter and in view that the group has been continuously in engagement with MyCC, the group had requested for a reduction of the daily penalty,” it said.

MyEG said further to MyCC’s original decision, the group had already made changes to its system to comply with the commission's requirements then and officially notified MyCC of its compliance on Nov 18, 2015 and again on Jan 17, 2018.

“As such, the group is now seeking to appeal the magnitude of the penalty imposed on these grounds,” it said.

Earlier, MyEG told Bursa Malaysia it would be filing for a stay in the daily penalty imposed by MyCC and appealing against the High Court's judgment to uphold MyCC's decision to slap a penalty of RM9.34 million on the e-government services provider for abusing its dominant position.

The penalty comprises a financial penalty of RM307,200 and daily penalties from Oct 7, 2015 to Jan 22, 2019, which amounted to RM9.03 million.

MyEG is also liable for a daily penalty of RM7,500 per day, until it complies with the directives imposed by MyCC on its decision.