PARLIAMENT | Scalpers, such as the duo who recently hired foreign workers to queue for Pokémon cards, may soon find that profiteering from other people’s patience comes at a price, with the government considering regulating scalping under the existing Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 rather than waiting for a new standalone law.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Ali said the proposed regulations would address several issues, including how scalping should be legally defined, the activities to be covered, controls on bulk purchases by individuals or automated bots, and whether tickets should be registered under a buyer’s name or identification document.

“However, the ministry is engaging with event organisers and conducting benchmarking studies with the aim of establishing a legal framework,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during question time today.