ACT 658 - ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACT 2006

ACT 658
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACT 2006

PART I - PRELIMINARY

Section 1. Short title and commencement
(1) This Act may be cited as the Electronic Commerce Act 2006.

(2) This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette.

Section 2. Application
(1) Subject to section 3, this Act shall apply to any commercial transaction conducted through electronic means including commercial transactions by the Federal and State Governments.

(2) This Act shall not apply to the transactions or documents specified in the Schedule.

(3) The Minister may by order amend, vary, delete from or add to the Schedule.

Section 3. Use not mandatory
(1) Nothing in this Act shall make it mandatory for a person to use, provide or accept any electronic message in any commercial transaction unless the person consents to the using, providing or accepting of the electronic message.

(2) A person's consent to use, provide or accept any electronic message in any commercial transaction may be inferred from the person's conduct.

Section 4. Reference to other written laws
The application of this Act shall be supplemental and without prejudice to any other laws regulating commercial transactions.

Section 5. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

"electronic" means the technology of utilizing electrical, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, biometric, photonic or other similar technology;

"Minister" means the Minister charged with the responsibility for domestic trade and consumer affairs;

"electronic message" means an information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic means;

"originator" means a person by whom or on whose behalf, the electronic message is generated or sent;

"addressee" means a person who is intended by the originator to receive the electronic message;

"information processing system" means an electronic system for generating, sending, receiving, storing or processing the electronic message;

"electronic signature" means any letter, character, number, sound or any other symbol or any combination thereof created in an electronic form adopted by a person as a signature;

"commercial transactions" means a single communication or multiple communications of a commercial nature, whether contractual or not, which includes any matters relating to the supply or exchange of goods or services, agency, investments, financing, banking and insurance.

PART II - LEGAL RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGE

Section 6 . Legal recognition of electronic message

(1) Any information shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability on the ground that it is wholly or partly in an electronic form.

(2) Any information shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability on the ground that the information is not contained in the electronic message that gives rise to such legal effect, but is merely referred to in that electronic message, provided that the information being referred to is accessible to the person against whom the referred information might be used.

Section 7. Formation and validity of contract
(1) In the formation of a contract, the communication of proposals, acceptance of proposals, and revocation of proposals and acceptances or any related communication may be expressed by an electronic message.

(2) A contract shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability on the ground that an electronic message is used in its formation

PART III - FULFILMENT OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS

Section 8. Writing

Where any law requires information to be in writing, the requirement of the law is fulfilled if the information is contained in an electronic message that is accessible and intelligible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.

Section 9. Signature

(1) Where any law requires a signature of a person on a document, the requirement of the law is fulfilled, if the document is in the form of an electronic message, by an electronic signature which—

(a) is attached to or is logically associated with the electronic message;

(b) adequately identifies the person and adequately indicates the person's approval of the information to which the signature relates; and

(c) is as reliable as is appropriate given the purpose for which, and the circumstances in which, the signature is required.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), an electronic signature is as reliable as is appropriate if—

(a) the means of creating the electronic signature is linked to and under the control of that person only;

(b) any alteration made to the electronic signature after the time of signing is detectable; and

(c) any alteration made to that document after the time of signing is detectable.

(3) The Digital Signature Act 1997 [Act 562] shall continue to apply to any digital signature used as an electronic signature in any commercial transaction.

Section 10. Seal
(1) Where any law requires a seal to be affixed to a document, the requirement of the law is fulfilled, if the document is in the form of an electronic message, by a digital signature as provided under the Digital Signature Act 1997.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, prescribe any other electronic signature that fulfills the requirement of affixing a seal in an electronic message.

Section 11. Witness
Where any law requires the signature of a witness on a document, the requirement of the law is fulfilled, if the document is in the form of an electronic message, by an electronic signature of the witness that complies with the requirements of section 9.

Section 12. Original

(1) Where any law requires any document to be in its original form, the requirement of the law is fulfilled by a document in the form of an electronic message if—

(a) there exists a reliable assurance as to the integrity of the information contained in the electronic message from the time it is first generated in its final form; and

(b) the electronic message is accessible and intelligible so as to be usable for subsequent reference.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a)—

(a) the criteria for assessing the integrity of the information shall be whether the information has remained complete and unaltered, apart from the addition of any endorsement or any change which arises in the normal course of communication, storage and display; and

(b) the standard of reliability required shall be assessed in the light of the purpose for which the document was generated and in the light of all other relevant circumstances.

Section 13. Retention of document

Where any law requires any document to be retained, the requirement of the law is fulfilled by retaining the document in the form of an electronic message if the electronic message—

is retained in the format in which it is generated, sent or received, or in a format that does not materially change the information contained in the electronic message that was originally generated, sent or received;

(b) is accessible and intelligible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and

(c) identifies the origin and destination of the electronic message and the date and time it is sent or received.

Section 14. Copy
Where any law requires any document to be retained, served, sent or delivered in more than one copy, the requirement of the law is fulfilled, if the document is in the form of an electronic message, by retention, service, sending or delivery of the document in one copy.

Section 15. Prescribed form

Where any law requires any document to be in a prescribed form, the requirement of the law is fulfilled by a document in the form of an electronic message if the electronic message is—

(a) formatted in the same or substantially the same way as the prescribed form;

(b) accessible and intelligible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and

(c) capable of being retained by the other person.

Section 16. Service and delivery

(1) Where any law requires any document to be served, sent or delivered, the requirement of the law is fulfilled by the service, sending or delivery of the document by an electronic means if an information processing system is in place—

(a) to identify the origin, destination, time and date of service, sending or delivery; and

(b) for the acknowledgement of receipt,

of the document.

(2) This section does not apply to—

(a) any notice of default, notice of demand, notice to show cause, notice of repossession or any similar notices which are required to be served prior to commencing a legal proceeding; and

(b) any originating process, pleading, affidavit or other documents which are required to be served pursuant to a legal proceeding.

PART IV - COMMUNICATION OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGE

Section 17. Attribution of electronic message


(1) An electronic message is that of the originator if it is sent by the originator himself.


(2) As between the originator and the addressee, an electronic message is deemed to be that of the originator if it is sent by—

(a) a person who has the authority to act on behalf of the originator in respect of that electronic message; or


(b) an information processing system programmed by, or on behalf of, the originator to operate automatically.

(3) As between the originator and the addressee, the addressee is entitled to regard an electronic message as being that of the originator, and to act on that presumption, if—

(a) the addressee properly applies an authentication method agreed between the originator and the addressee for ascertaining whether the electronic message was that of the originator; or


(b) the electronic message as received by the addressee resulted from the actions of a person whose relationship with the originator or any agent of the originator enabled that person to gain access to an authentication method used by the originator to identify electronic message as its own.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if—

(a) the addressee has received a notice from the originator that the electronic message is not that of the originator and has reasonable time to act accordingly; or


(b) the addressee knew or should have known that the electronic message was not that of the originator had he exercised reasonable care or used any authentication method agreed between the originator and the addressee.

Section 18. Contents of electronic message


Where an addressee receives an electronic message, the addressee is entitled to regard the electronic message as being what the originator intended to send, and to act on that presumption, unless the addressee knew or should have known, had he exercised reasonable care or used any agreed procedure, that the transmission resulted in any error in the electronic message as received.

Section 19. Each electronic message to be regarded separately


Where an addressee receives an electronic message, the addressee is entitled to regard each electronic message received as a separate electronic message and to act on that presumption, unless the addressee knew or should have known, had he exercised reasonable care or used any agreed procedure, that the electronic message was a duplicate.

Section 20. Time of dispatch


Unless otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, an electronic message is deemed sent when it enters an information processing system outside the control of the originator.

Section 21. Time of receipt


Unless otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, an electronic message is deemed received—

(a) where the addressee has designated an information processing system for the purpose of receiving electronic messages, when the electronic message enters the designated information processing system; or


(b) where the addressee has not designated an information processing system for the purpose of receiving electronic messages, when the electronic message comes to the knowledge of the addressee.

Section 22. Place of dispatch


Unless otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, an electronic message is deemed sent from the originator's place of business, and—

(a) where the originator has more than one place of business, from the place of business that has the closest relationship with the transaction or where there is no place of business that has the closest relationship with the transaction, from the originator's principal place of business; or


(b) where the originator does not have a place of business, from the originator's ordinary place of residence.

Section 23. Place of receipt


Unless otherwise agreed between the originator and the addressee, an electronic message is deemed received at the addressee's place of business, and—

(a) where the addressee has more than one place of business, at the place of business that has the closest relationship with the transaction or where there is no place of business that has the closest relationship with the underlying transaction, at the addressee's principal place of business;or


(b) where the addressee does not have a place of business, at the addressee's ordinary place of residence.

Section 24. Acknowledgement of receipt


(1) This section applies where, on or before sending an electronic message, or in the electronic message, the originator has requested or agreed with the addressee that receipt of the electronic message is to be acknowledged.


(2) Where the originator has requested or agreed with the addressee that receipt of the electronic message is to be acknowledged, the electronic message is treated as though it has never been sent until the acknowledgement is received.


(3) Where the originator has not agreed with the addressee that the acknowledgement be given in a particular form or by a particular method, an acknowledgement may be given by—

(a) any communication by the addressee, automated or otherwise; or


(b) any conduct of the addressee sufficient to indicate to the originator that the electronic message has been received.

(4) Where the acknowledgement has not been received by the originator within the time specified or agreed or, if no time has been specified or agreed, within a reasonable time, the originator may—

(a) give notice to the addressee stating that no acknowledgement has been received and specifying a reasonable time by which the acknowledgement must be received; and


(b) if the acknowledgement is not received within the time specified in paragraph (a), give notice to the addressee to treat the electronic message as though it had never been sent and exercise any other rights he may have.

(5) Where the originator receives the addressee's acknowledgement of receipt, it is presumed that the addressee received the related electronic message.


(6) Where the received acknowledgement states that the related electronic message fulfills technical requirements, either agreed upon or set forth in applicable standards, it is presumed that those requirements have been fulfilled.

Perniagaan Internet @ Penipuan Internet??

Perniagaan Internet adalah di mana terdapat jual-beli produk atau perkhidmatan di Internet. Sebagai contoh, menjual kain batik ke pasaran global menggunakan Internet, menjual buku melalui Internet, memberi perkhidmatan mengalih bahasa melalui Internet, memberi perkhidmatan dan sebagainya.contoh perniagaan internet yg terkenal adalah seperti ebay, mudah.my dan lelong.com.

Penipuan Di Internet??

•      Penipuan di Internet sudah menjadi trend yang semakin meningkat pada hari ini.

•      Ramai orang telah menjadi mangsa atas kerangkusan pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab dengan tujuan untuk mengaut keuntungan mudah.

•      Kebiasaannya mangsa yang mudah ditipu adalah mereka kurang berpengetahuan dalam bidang IT atau mereka yang masih baru dalam dunia Internet.

•      MEMBELI-BELAH secara online bukanlah perkara baru bagi pengguna pada era ini kerana laman web jual beli seperti eBay, Lelong dan Mudah seakan-akan sudah sinonim dengan ramai pengguna Internet di negara ini.

 Jenis-jenis Penipuan Internet.

•      Kategori 1 : Penipuan Emel.

•      Kategori 2 : Penipuan SMS.

•      Kategori 3 : Penipuan Di Laman Web Sosial.

•      Kategori 4 : Penipuan Di Youtube.com

•      Kategori 5 : Penipuan Pengiklanan Online.

•      Kategori 6 : Penipuan Di Mudah.my

•      Kategori 7 : Penipuan Pelaburan Internet.

•      Kategori 8 : Penipuan Di Laman-laman Web.

•      Kategori 9 : Penipuan Di Forum-forum Internet.

•      Kategori 10 : Penipuan MLM Internet.

•      Kategori 11 : Penipuan Surat/Emel Berantai.

•      Kategori 12 : Penipuan Program Amal Kebajikan Di Internet.

Faktor-Faktor Berlakunya Penipuan??

Sebenarnya terdapat banyak faktor yang menyebabkan ramai mangsa mudah ditipu oleh pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab ini. Faktor utama penipuan ini terjadi disebabkan sikap mangsa itu sendiri kerana mudah terpengaruh dengan program atau skim-skim yang menjanjikan pendapatan lumayan dalam tempoh masa yang singkat. Sikap seperti inilah yang harus diubah supaya penipuan di Internet dapat di banteras habis-habisan agar pihak yang menjalankan perniagaan Internet sebenar tidak terkena tempiasnya. “Kerana nila setitik habis rosak susu sebelanga”.

Selain itu kesedaran yang rendah tentang penipuan di Internet, juga menjadi faktor mengapa ramai orang mudah ditipu. Untuk itu ramai IM telah memainkan peranan sebagai tanggungjawab sosial untuk memberi kesedaran kepada orang ramai tentang penipuan yang berlaku di Internet dengan menulis artikel, menerbitkan ebook, mengadakan seminar dan sebagainya.

 Langkah-langkah mengatasi??

Pengguna:

•      berhati-hati serta berfikir banyak kali sebelum melakukan sesuatu transaksi pembelian online

•      Menyemak dan memastikan kesahihan barang yang didagangkan/dijual.

•      Tidak memberi apa-apa maklumat penting berkaitan diri semasa transaksi jual-beli sedang berjalan

•      Tidak sewenangnya membuat pembayaran menggunakan kad kredit atau kalau boleh, hanya bayar setelah mendapatkan produk yang dibeli. Pastikan produk yang dibeli ada jaminan wang kembali.

•      bertanya dan membaca kontrak dengan teliti sebelum bersetuju dengan sebarang perjanjian.

Peniaga:

•      Mendaftarkan perniagaan online mereka dengan pihak Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM).

•      Periksa dengan pihak berkuasa terutama kementerian kewangan dan suruhjaya sekuriti mengenai syarikat atau skim tersebut.

Walaubagaimanapun, masih terdapat perniagaan di Internet yang tiada unsur penipuan. Bukan semua perniagaan di internet bermotifkan penipuan semata-mata. Terdapat banyak perniagaan di internet yang berjaya dan dipercayai seperti amazon.com . Yang pentingnya, langkah keselamatan dan berhati-hati perlu dilakukan sebelum mempercayai dan menggunakan perkhidmatan-perkhidmatan seperti ini. Walaubagaimanapun, back to the basic, penggunaan teknologi pada zaman siber ini seharusnya digunakan secara positif bukan sebaliknya.

E- COMMERSE

E-commerce adalah dimana dalam satu website menyediakan atau dapatmelakukan Transaksi secara online atau juga bisa merupakan suatu cara berbelanja atau berdagang secara online atau direct selling yang memanfaatkan fasilitas Internet dimana terdapat website yang dapat menyediakan layanan “get and deliver“. E-commerce akan merubah semua kegiatan marketing dan juga sekaligus memangkas biaya-biaya operasi untuk kegiatan trading (perdagangan) .
Adapun pendapat mengenai pengertian E-Commerce bahawa E-commerce mengacu pada internet untuk belanja online dan jangkauan lebih sempit. Dimana e-commerce adalah subperangkat dari E-Bisnes. cara pembayarannya adalah melalui transfer wang secara digital seperti melalui akaun atau kad kredit. Sedangkan, E-Bisnes mengacu pada internet tapi jangkauan lebih luas. Pada umumnya pengunjung Website dapat melihat barang atau produk yang dijual secara online (24 jam sehari).

Contoh E-Commerce.
Banyak sekali yang dapat kita lakukan melalui E-Commerce yaitu :
1. Pembelian buku melalui online.
2. Pembelian elektronik melalui online.
3. Pembelian kendaraan melalui online.
4. Pembelian pakaian melalui online

LANGKAH-LANGKAH SEBELUM PEMBELIAN ONLINE

Berikut adalah langkah-langkah yang perlu diketahui oleh pengguna sebelum melibatkan diri dalam pembelian dalam talian:

1.    Sebelum membeli sesuatu barang, layari lebih daripada satu laman sesawang yang menawarkan barangan yang sama untuk membuat perbandingan harga;

2.    Setiap pembelian barang perlu disertakan dengan invois daripada penjual;

3.    Dapatkan data peribadi dan nombor telefon penjual;

4.    Pembelian dalam talian memerlukan data peribadi pembeli seperti nombor kad pengenalan, nombor akaun atau nombor kad kredit yang dianggap sulit. Pastikan laman sesawang yang dikunjungi diiktiraf dan memiliki sistem sekuriti yang baik;

5.    Pastikan alamat laman sesawang berkenaan tertera `https://’ berbanding `http://.’ Ini kerana `https’ merupakan pangkalan data dan sistem sekuriti yang menjaga segala maklumat peribadi pengguna;

6.    Simpan resit pembayaran;

7.    Berhati-hati apabila membayar menggunakan kad kredit. Jangan dedahkan empat nombor kad kredit yang terakhir;

8.    Faham terma dan syarat sebelum membuat transaksi.

TIPS

Tips: Shopping Tip List

Here's a list of tips you should consult when shopping online. Print this page and keep it in a handy place so it will be easy to review before you order.

1. Trust your instincts. If you don't feel comfortable buying or bidding on an item over the web, or if you feel pressured to place your order immediately, maybe you shouldn't. 
2. Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions. Take special care to familiarize yourself not only with the rules and policies of the auction site itself but with the legal terms (warranties, refund policy, etc.) of the seller's items that you wish to bid on. 
3. Double check pricing. Be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true. Also consider carefully whether you may be paying too much for an item, particularly if you're bidding through an auction site. You may want to comparison shop, online or offline, before you buy. Make sure there are not extra shipping or handling costs. 
4. Find and read the privacy policy. Read the privacy policy carefully to find out what information the seller is gathering from you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, you may not want to do business with it. If it does have a privacy policy, there will probably be a link to it from the seller's home page, or it could be included with the Legal Terms. 
5. Review the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies as well as the other legal terms . If you can't find them, ask the seller through an e-mail or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing. 
6. Make sure the Internet connection is secure. Before you give your payment information, check for indicators that security software is in place. 
7. Use the safest way to pay on the Internet. Pay for your order using a credit card. 
8. Print the terms. You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information, even confirming e-mails, and save them with your records of your purchase.
9. Insure the safe delivery of your item. If you're concerned you may not be home when your package is delivered and that someone may take it if it is left on the doorstep, ask whether you can specify that the shipper must receive a signature before leaving the package. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office.
10. Inspect your purchase. Look at your purchase carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem with it. Tell the seller in writing about any problems you have, ask for a repair or refund, and keep a copy of your correspondence.