It was reported that the chairman and CEO of ECNet (a silicon valley company previously known as AMO) proposed during the Techventure 2000 Conference the consideration of anti-trust legislation to prevent monopolistic practices that cripple the growth of start-up companies. He commented that some government-linked companies were given advantages which affected the ability of smaller companies to compete with them. However, he was in support of the government’s current move towards deregulation.

When asked about the need for anti-trust legislation, the Deputy Prime Minister reportedly answered that anti-trust is not a major concern. The emphasis appears to be on deregulating and liberalising the economy so that new entities such as Internet start-ups would rise or fall on their own merit in a free and fair market environment.

Although anti-trust law is premised on the public policy of preventing the formation of monopolies which dictate market conditions and stifle innovation, its application has been met with mixed reactions elsewhere. The recent anti-trust proceedings against Microsoft in the USA are a case in point. How the Singapore government will decide on imposing anti-trust measures remains to be seen.

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