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Julai 16, 2021 @ 5:24pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Kenaikan mendadak harga premium insurans kesihatan antara 30 hingga 60 peratus antara tujuh aduan diterima Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) berdasarkan 495 aduan yang diterima dalam tempoh dua minggu.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif FOMCA, Saravanan Thambirajah, berkata isu itu dikesan membabitkan sebilangan syarikat insurans yang bertindak menaikkan harga premium insurans kesihatan sejak tahun lalu ekoran penularan pandemik COVID-19.
Beliau berkata, tindakan itu tidak sepatutnya berlaku ketika rakyat khususnya ada pelanggannya yang hilang kerja dan pendapatan.
"Apa pun alasan mereka (syarikat insurans) menaikkan harga premium insurans kesihatan, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) perlu kawal selia dengan ketat.
"Pemberian moratorium tiga bulan pun tidak diuar-uarkan secara meluas berdasarkan makluman daripada BNM. Ia menyebabkan ramai orang tidak tahu mengenai moratorium berkenaan dan di pihak kami pun tidak mengetahui lanjut mengenai perkara ini kerana tiada jalinan komunikasi yang baik.
"Kita sudah memberitahu kepada mereka (syarikat insurans), jangan naikkan harga sebab pandemik COVID-19, sebab ada yang hilang kerja dan hilang pendapatan," katanya pada sidang media maya selepas menghantar memorandum kepada BNM yang diwakili Timbalan Gabenor, Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, hari ini.
Pengurus Kanan Pusat Khidmat Aduan Pengguna Nasional (NCCC), Baskaran Sithamparam, berkata lebih mendukacitakan ada pelanggan tidak dimaklumkan mengenai kenaikan harga yang perlu dibayar.
"Pelanggan tidak diberitahu mengenai kenaikan harga premium yang membebankan. Jika satu keluarga ada empat orang, insurans naik RM50... ia adalah peningkatan yang banyak. Jadi, pihak insurans kena maklumkan kepada pelanggan.
"Walaupun mereka (syarikat insurans) ada kuasa untuk naikkan caj perkhidmatan dan caj mutlak, syarikat insurans sepatutnya maklumkan perkara itu. Bank Negara juga kena lihat peratusan (kenaikan) dan sepatutnya kawal selia.
Read more: FOMCA terima banyak aduan kenaikan premium insurans
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PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) received more than 1,500 complaints regarding insurance companies last year, a number of them involving the substantial increase of medical insurance premiums.
Fomca national consumer complaints centre senior manager S. Baskaran said some of the increases were so steep that consumers could not afford the premium under short notice.
"Even more so during the pandemic when people have lost their jobs or taken drastic pay cuts.
“It's not fair to increase the premiums as it (medical insurance) is an important thing to have," he told a press conference on Friday (July 16).
Baskaran said one complainant, a 60-year-old physically challenged woman who bought her policy 12 years ago and was paying a monthly premium of RM159, received a notification that it had been increased to RM459, an increase of 188%.
"If the premium increases by too much, there is a possibility that the policy may lapse and eventually be terminated if the holder is unable to keep up with the payments," he said.
Fomca had on Friday submitted a memorandum to Bank Negara deputy president Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour on the issue and six other matters regarding insurance.
It urged the central bank to look into the complaints, saying that consumers need policies that are able to protect them and their families.
"The onus is on the insurance industry to develop and revamp in the areas where there are many weaknesses.
"It has to cover every angle so as not to put policyholders in a difficult situation. Bank Negara must be more vigilant and ensure that consumers are well protected,“ said Baskaran.
The other complaints Fomca received included cash values accumulated over time being utilised to cover revised total premiums without the consent of the policyholder; consumers told to pay first and claim later; disputes on claimd; as well as misleading terms in policies.
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PETALING JAYA: The National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) has urged Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to regulate the steep increase in insurance premiums.
In a memorandum sent to BNM, NCCC, a division under the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, said insurance companies were increasing premiums at such a rapid rate that consumers were unable to pay at short notice.
Its senior manager, Baskeran Sithamparam, said the time frame given for the increase in premium to take effect is often rather short.
“Policyholders need time to adjust to the premium increase.”
Baskeran said that if the premium increase was too big, there was also a high possibility that the policy may lapse, with the policyholder being unable to keep up with payments.
“BNM should regulate the insurance premiums very strictly. If there is any increase, the justification must come from BNM as insurance companies are under its purview.”
Baskeran added that although patients had medical cards, there had been numerous instances when insurance companies denied approval for certain treatments.
In fact, he said insurance companies would insist that the policyholders pay the expenses first and claim later in certain cases.
Baskeran said it was unfair for insurance industries to expect policyholders to pay first as they had been paying their premiums promptly.
“Consumers paying their premiums but being unable to use their medical card will lead to distrust in insurance companies.
“The ‘pay first, claim later’ practice should be abolished. It should not be applicable when a medical card has been provided,” he said.
Baskeran also said BNM should ensure there are affordable medical insurance policies for those in the lower-income bracket.
“In short, BNM must be more vigilant and ensure consumers who buy insurance policies are well protected,” he said.
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July 16, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 – As part of the industry effort to fight financial fraud, Royal Malaysian Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) and Facebook Malaysia, in partnership with government agencies, industry and consumer associations today launched a nationwide #TakNakScam awareness campaign to educate the public on how to identify, check and report against highly deceptive tactics employed by scammers.
In a statement, Facebook said this ongoing campaign held from July till the end of September is a joint effort between CCID, Royal Malaysian Police, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) and the Education and Research Association for Consumers, Malaysia (ERA Consumer Malaysia).
“More people than ever before are now online and social media helps people stay connected with communities, families, and friends around the world,” Facebook Malaysia Acting Country Director Justin Murugaya said.
“However, it is not just the good guys that are online.
“With the rising scam cases across Malaysia, we hope that this campaign will help support various law enforcement and government agencies, industry and consumer associations and the financial services sector in building and ensuring a safer online ecosystem in Malaysia.”
Many Malaysian have become victims of frauds and scams since the beginning of the Movement Control Order (MCO), financial scams being most prevalent, as scammers exploit increasing reliance on technology.
According to PDRM, cybercrime fraud in Malaysia is on the rise at a concerning level.
Over the last five years, a total of 67,552 cyber scam cases were reported between 2017 till this June 20, recording a total loss of RM2.23 billion.
Of the total, e-commerce scams top the chart with 23,011 cases, followed by illegal loans 21,008 cases and investment scams, 6, 273 cases.
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MEDIA INVITATION: PRESS CONFERENCE ON MEMORANDUM SUBMISSION TO BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Referring to the matter, Federation of Malaysia Consumers Associations (FOMCA) and National Consumer Complaints Centre will be submitting a Memorandum regarding CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO INSURANCE INDUSTRY to Bank Negara Malaysia.
Almost every consumers has some form of insurance these days. Policies ranging from housing, motorised vehicles, endowment, medical, life and many more have been evolving in different packages. Consumers are also investing in medical policies due to the increase of communicable and non-communicable diseases that have been constantly evolving. Having a medical insurance policy will be an added advantage as policy holders can seek medical attention or treatment at a private hospitals.
Nevertheless, the insurance industry has been identified as more of a bane than a boon by a big group of consumers. Numerous complaints have been voiced and lodged at the National Consumer complaints Centre (NCCC) with regards to insurance. NCCC which is a partner of Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) has been and continues to be concerned on the transparency of the procedures of insurance industry when handling consumers concerns and issues. This memorandum aims to highlight the ongoing types of complaints received from consumers in regards to insurance and the recommendations for a well-functioning industry alongside with well-informed consumers.
The event shall be held as follows;
Date : 16th July 2021 (Friday)
Time : 3.00pm – 3.30pm
Venue : ZOOM Platform: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87337488858?pwd=WlcrZnR2cCtRU3JEZVZBUDg3RE1QZz09
Received By : YBhg. Encik Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia.
With regards to the above, we would like to extend a kind invitation to your organization to send media representatives. For further information please contact MR BASKARAN SITHAMPARAM, +60 19-578 9396
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JEMPUTAN MEDIA: PENYERAHAN MEMORANDUM KEPADA BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA BERKENAAN ADUAN PENGGUNA TERHADAP INDUSTRI INSURANS
Merujuk perkara di atas, Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) dan Pusat Khidmat Aduan Pengguna Nasional (NCCC) akan menyerahkan Memorandum berkenaan ADUAN PENGGUNA TERHADAP INDUSTRI INSURANS kepada Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
Hampir setiap pengguna mempunyai beberapa jenisinsurans pada hari ini. Polisi insurans merangkumi aspek perumahan, kenderaan bermotor, wasiat, perubatan, kehidupan dan banyak lagi telah berkembang dalam pelbagai pakej yang disediakan oleh pihak insurans. Pengguna juga melabur dalam polisi perubatan kerana peningkatan penyakit berjangkit dan tidak berjangkit yang terus berkembang. Memiliki polisi insurans perubatan akan menjadi kelebihan tambahan kerana pemegang polisi mempunyai pilihan untuk mendapatkan rawatan atau rawatan perubatan di hospital swasta.
Walau pun begitu, industri insurans lebih terkenal sebagai pihak yang boleh memberi faedah atau penderitaan kepada pengguna. Terdapat banyak aduan telah disuarakan dan diajukan oleh pengguna kepada NCCC berkaitan dengan insurans. NCCC yang merupakan rakan kongsi kepada FOMCA telah dan berterusan memberi perhatian terhadap ketelusan prosedur industri insurans ketika menangani masalah dan isu pengguna. Oleh itu, memorandum ini bertujuan untuk ketengahkan beberapa jenis aduan yang berterusan daripada pengguna mengenai insurans dan beberapa cadangan untuk industri memberikan perkhidmatan dengan lebih baik untuk pengguna yang berpengetahuan.
Acara akan diadakan seperti yang berikut:
Tarikh : 16 Julai 2021 (Jumaat)
Masa : 3.00pm – 3.30pm
Platform talian : Aplikasi ZOOM: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87337488858?pwd=WlcrZnR2cCtRU3JEZVZBUDg3RE 1QZz09
Diterima oleh : YBhg. Encik Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Timbalan Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia.
Merujuk perkara di atas, kami ingin menjemput pihak media sebagai wakil media daripada organisasi anda. Untuk maklumat lanjut sila hubungi ENCIK MR BASKARAN SITHAMPARAM, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 09 Jul 2021
PETALING JAYA: As more Malaysians rely on e-commerce websites to purchase items during the movement control order, the number of complaints on such purchases has also risen.
When the MCO was first imposed in March last year, many complaints on related products like face masks and sanitisers were lodged, according to National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) senior manager Baskaran Sithamparam.
“Many consumers relied on purchasing their daily needs from e-commerce sites.
“Rogue sellers (scammers) took advantage of the situation and started offering their products on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.
“Many buyers were scammed and until today, we still receive complaints from consumers scammed by these sellers on social media,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The NCCC comes under the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca).
Baskaran said for legitimate e-commerce platforms, the type of complaints received mostly touched on their refund and return policy which were said to be tedious and time-consuming.
“Besides that, the vendors were also defended by the (online) selling platforms when consumers receive substandard products.
“There were also complaints on misleading information, defective products and products that were not as advertised,” he added.
However, he noted that recently, some issues regarding refunds and return policies from legitimate e-commerce platforms have improved slightly.
“Some consumers also face issues pertaining to e-wallet withdrawals,” he said, adding that consumers should be allowed to withdraw their own cash within a short time period.
On sellers on social media platforms, Baskaran said many scammers posed as sellers.
Read more: Rogue sellers prey on people’s reliance on e-shopping
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LETTER | The EPF estimates that the minimum retirement savings needed per worker after retirement is RM240,000 that is based on the calculation of RM1,000 per month for 20 years. Before Covid-19, 67 percent of those registered with EPF did not even have that minimum. Further, again pre-Covid, EPF reported that 50 percent of contributors above the age of 54 have savings of below RM50,000. Thus even before the pandemic, Malaysians were not saving enough for retirement mainly due to low incomes.
During the pandemic, through the i-Letsari, i-Sinar and i- Chitra schemes, EPF contributors were allowed to withdraw their retirement savings to face the current economic challenges for themselves and for their family’s urgent needs. Most certainly it would be the poor and desperate who would seek to withdraw their future retirement savings for current needs.
Recently, the EPF CEO stated that 6.3 million or 42 percent of the EPF's total membership have less than RM10,000 in their Account 1, which is meant for retirement savings while 9.3 million people have less than RM 10,000 in Account 2, which could be used for such purposes as purchasing a house, medical bills or children’s education.
The savings in Account 1 is for retirement while the savings in Account 2 is for major financial needs such as for purchasing their first home or their children’s education or emergency needs such as their unexpected medical expenses.
Based on the withdrawals for the three schemes, i-Lestari, i-Sinar and i-Citra, it is highly probable that for many of the contributors, after their withdrawal from the various schemes, the savings remaining is almost gone. They would have nothing left for the needs of their families, such as education and housing needs or have enough for their retirement. Due to their urgent current emergency needs, their future critical needs have had to be abandoned.
Is this the best way for the government to help those in need?
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) strongly believes that adequate financial support should have been given directly to those in need. Forcing people to use their own future emergency and retirement savings to face the current crises is grossly unfair for the future wellbeing of the rakyat. The most badly affected would certainly be the poor and the vulnerable.
If workers and consumers are forced to use their own savings to rescue themselves from the current crises, it clearly indicates how grossly inadequate the current social protection programmes are. And this does not even include the hawkers and contract workers outside the EPF system who have completely no social protection.
The current approach of using EPF savings for current emergency needs will definitely cause severe suffering as workers face a spike in healthcare costs and very low savings in their retirement years.
Read more: LETTER | Destroying the financial future of the poor- FOMCA
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05 JUL 2021 / 13:52 H.
FOMCA has been receiving numerous complaints from people who have been cheated when shopping via social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram and others. Buying via social media platforms is unadvisable.
The government is encouraging Malaysians to venture into online businesses as the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many people due to job loss, while some have been forced to take no-pay leave.
Although there are many sincere sellers who are selling their products such as food, clothes, art and craft, etc, to make ends meet, nevertheless, there are many who are using online platforms to cheat guileless consumers.
The largest number of reports were on non-delivery of goods purchased. Most of the complaints were regarding sellers not delivering the promised goods, sellers were missing, ghosting, etc.
Most of the transactions ranged from RM30 to RM9,000. Once payments were made, the scammers disappeared without a trace. Even the websites and phone numbers were no longer available.
Besides being victims of online scams, many consumers also claimed to be given the runaround and when it came to product delivery, with some products taking more than a month to arrive.
While many online sellers are legitimate, social media scammers use the internet to rip off unsuspecting shoppers. They will often ask consumers to wire transfer money upfront.
As more Malaysians turn to the internet to purchase goods and services, there is a pressing need for an improved legal framework to protect rights of consumers.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Communication and Multimedia Commission should regulate online sellers who use social media to sell their products and services.
Many of them are not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Consumers are urged not to trust any social media platform to do any transaction.
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01 Julai 2021
SHAH ALAM - Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) menggesa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) turun padang serta memantau syarikat insurans dan bengkel kenderaan bagi membanteras rasuah dalam industri insurans di Malaysia.
Presiden Fomca, Profesor Datuk Dr N Marimuthu berkata, langkah itu perlu dilakukan bagi memastikan industri berkenaan mematuhi undang-undang serta terma perkhidmatan mereka.
“BNM sebagai agensi yang memantau industri insurans harus turun padang dan memantau industri insurans supaya mereka akur serta mengikut peraturan-peraturan yang terkandung dalam terma dan syarat.
“Jika BNM menerima aduan daripada pengguna, mereka juga harus siasat secara mendalam supaya gejala rasuah dalam industri insurans kenderaan dapat dibanteras,” katanya ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian pada Rabu.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai tindakan yang wajar diambil BNM bagi membanteras rasuah dalam industri insurans ketika ini.
Mengulas lanjut, Marimuthu berkata, BNM yang berfungsi sebagai pemantau bagi pihak kerajaan perlu mengambil tindakan tegas jika didapati wujud penyelewengan dalam industri tersebut.
Selain itu, katanya, BNM juga perlu merancang strategi yang sesuai untuk memantau bagi menjamin gejala rasuah dalam industri itu dapat ditangani sebaiknya.“Tindakan ini penting supaya hak pengguna lebih terjamin serta tidak akan mengambil masa lama untuk memproses tuntutan dan sebagainya,” katanya.
Sementara itu, beliau mencadangkan supaya syarikat insurans dikehendaki menetapkan tempoh tertentu bagi memberi penerangan kepada pelanggan tentang insurans yang mereka ambil.
Read more: Bank Negara digesa turun padang pantau syarikat insurans: Fomca
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