KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 -- In Malaysia's crowded and seemingly expanding e-commerce space, a different kind of competitor is gaining attention and making notable inroads - one where price trumps all and reshapes consumer expectations.

Founded in 2015 by Shanghai-based PDD Holdings, Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo has turned e-shopping into digital bargain-hunting, where prices fall further as more users participate.

True to its slogan, "Together, more savings, more fun," the platform rewards collective purchasing - using bulk demand to drive prices down to levels that feel less like traditional retail and more like an endless clearance sale.

From group discounts to referral links, Pinduoduo's social group-buying model blends sharing wi...