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February 2, 2021 @ 5:57pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has put forward three demands to the government in the wake of the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 2.0.

On the extension of the MCO until Feb 18, Fomca president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said the onus is on the government to ensure people "have food on their table."

"Firstly, the government must extend the blanket loan moratorium in tandem with the MCO extension.

"Secondly, the government must distribute a RM5,000 allowance for workers who have been retrenched due to the implementation of the MCO.

"Thirdly, the government should also provide a RM1,200 allowance, or the minimum wage amount for unemployed individuals," he told the New Straits Times today.

The three measures, he said, are important to ensure that Malaysians can weather the economic uncertainty as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the nation.

"We constantly hear the government telling us that they have to strike a balance between lives and livelihood.

"Now is the time to deliver on that," he said.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/662488/mco-extension-fomca-calls-loan-moratorium-living-allowance?topicID=1&articleID=662488

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February 1, 2021 @ 10:48am
KUALA LUMPUR: Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said the time has come for the government to revamp the Covid-19 policy as the current approach was a total failure.

Its secretary-general Datuk Dr Paul Selvaraj said the country needs to be "intelligent with a little bit of common sense" to lead the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is indeed sad that the fight against Covid-19 is led by insensitive, and unintelligent leaders. The latest announcement by the Minister (Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob), though there is no law, is that resident managements have the right to allow only those who have taken Covid-19 tests to enter their apartment.

"No wonder the fight against Covid-19 is a massive failure. Health failure as cases keep going up. Economic failure as people continue to suffer, without adequate financial support, when they lose their jobs or incomes," he said in a statement today.
Selvaraj described the recent move as a consumer protection failure.

"Implementing that at the border is crucial, implementing it at your own home is absurd and senseless."

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MyCC not the right body to act against us when there's Mavcom, says MASJanuary 18, 2021
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 12): Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) today questioned whether the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) was the rightful body to take action against MAS and AirAsia Bhd in relation to a collaboration agreement entered into in 2011 by the two airlines as well as AirAsia X Sdn Bhd.

Submitting in the Court of Appeal, MAS’ counsel Logan Sabapathy said the matter was within the purview of the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) since its formation in 2016 as a specialised body to look into the aviation industry.

The High Court had in December 2018 allowed MyCC’s judicial review application and quashed the decision of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). It reinstated the March 2014 decision of MyCC, which imposed a fine of RM10 million each on MAS and AirAsia.

Noting that the aviation industry and CAT had accepted that MyCC should not have imposed the fine, Logan questioned why MyCC had proceeded to appeal against the decision made by its own appeal tribunal.

Logan said Mavcom had been set up specifically to regulate the aviation industry and should be the body to oversee the airline industry.

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January 15, 2021 2:13 PM
PETAING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has urged the government to offer workers a minimum wage and extend the loan moratorium in the wake of the second movement control order (MCO).

Its president, Marimuthu Nadason, said the government must seriously consider the impact the reimposed MCO will have on workers and businesses.

“They will need financial support. Fomca urges that all affected businesses and workers will be supported at least with a minimum wage to help them through the crisis. Abandoning the workers without any support is just plain cruel.

“Next, Fomca calls on Bank Negara to extend the loan moratorium until at least August. Bank Negara’s silence and indifference to the plight of the rakyat is deafening. There should be an immediate moratorium on all loans to assist those impacted by the MCO,” he said in a statement.

He also suggested that insurance companies be prevented from increasing premiums during the period.

While movement restrictions were necessary, Marimuthu said, it was important to ensure vulnerable communities were not left behind.

“Let us not forget or neglect the low income and the vulnerable who are suffering and will be impacted even worse by these new measures. A responsible government should take concrete and firm measures to support them,” he said.

According to the Malaysian Employers Federation, the economic fallout of the various movement restrictions caused 30,000 businesses to cease operations, resulting in 100,000 job losses, last year.

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15 Jan 2021
LETTER | It has indeed been a harsh new reality for consumers living under the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

In its obsession to “go digital”, MBPJ is demanding that assessment billing can only be made through digital means, without an alternative, and further warning that the council will not entertain exceptions for late payments. Harsh action that reflects how the local government has not considered the plight of the digitally disadvantaged.

They seem to deny that there is gross digital inequality between the rich and the poor; the rural and the urban and the able and senior citizens. There are indeed many poor and vulnerable groups in MBPJ's jurisdiction who due to poverty, lack of confidence or digital skills are unable to navigate the digital world confidently. They also deserve fairness and justice.

Even private utility companies provide online as well as physical bills and incentivise consumers through discounts to shift towards online billing platforms. The authorities should indeed be more sensitive towards the suffering of the vulnerable rakyat.

No effort has been made to identify and empower vulnerable consumers to help them through the process.

What is extremely disappointing are the so-called counsellors and local politicians who we had hoped would act to protect consumers and enhance their well-being. They have chosen to remain silent instead.

It is indeed laudable for the local government to go digital. It reduces paper wastage as well as brings savings to the agency. But please think of the welfare of all the rakyat, not just the technically savvy.

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Januari 13, 2021 @ 11:21am
KUALA LUMPUR: Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) mencadangkan supaya moratorium dilanjutkan bagi membantu golongan terkesan, susulan pengisytiharan darurat dan pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP).

Timbalan Presidennya, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, berkata dalam situasi semasa, ada rakyat yang belum mendapat pekerjaan selepas diberhentikan, berdepan pemotongan gaji, selain tidak jelas mengenai masa depan mereka.

Selain itu, ada golongan yang bekerja sendiri seperti peniaga kecil yang turut mengalami kesukaran, dengan sesetengah daripada mereka mungkin terpaksa menutup perniagaan.

"Walaupun kedai makan dan gerai penjaja di negeri yang dikenakan PKP dibenarkan beroperasi, namun jumlah pelanggan mereka berkurangan kerana ramai yang tidak keluar rumah.
"Selain itu, rentas negeri dan daerah juga tidak dibenarkan, yang menyebabkan sesetengah perniagaan kecil yang menjadi tumpuan pelancong turut terjejas," katanya kepada BH, hari ini.

Kelmarin, Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengumumkan pelaksanaan PKP di enam negeri selama 14 hari bermula tengah tadi membabitkan Pulau Pinang, Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan), Melaka, Johor dan Sabah, susulan peningkatan besar jumlah kes COVID-19 di negara ini.

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5 Jan 2021 | Tuesday
LETTER | The year 2020 was supposed to be the year we became a “developed” nation. Instead, it was a year of great suffering for many workers and consumers. It was a year of a health crisis as well as an economic crisis.

As a health crisis, many lost their loved ones or were infected by the dreaded disease. Apart from a strictly physical health crisis, it affected others more deeply.

Mental health issues have increased. Suicides have increased. Beyond that, there were reports of increasing domestic violence.

As an economic crisis, many lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced. Many were stuck with debts or commitments they could not fulfil. Basic needs were affected. Children’s education was affected.

None of this is new. But how do we move forward from here into 2021? There was indeed much suffering, but there are also some lessons to be learnt.

One simple message going viral that “2020 was not a year to expect and plan for what we do not have but appreciate what we do have” can be a start. Let me add some other thoughts.

We need to invest in our health. We do not know when this pandemic will end or the next begin. The next pandemic is not an 'if' but a 'when'. We need to take care of our health and strengthen our immune systems. The suggestions are nothing new: healthier food, exercise, and adequate sleep.

Furthermore, we need to invest in supplements and regular check-ups. Will these protect us? If not completely, certainly they can contribute, to some extent, to reducing the risks and mitigating the negative impacts.