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June 7, 2021 8:00 AM
PETALING JAYA: Kumpulan pengguna mendesak kerajaan segera campur tangan dalam isu kenaikan mendadak harga minyak masak sehingga lebih RM30 bagi 5kg.

Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) perlu membuka mata serta melihat sendiri “keperitan sebenar” yang dihadapi pengguna ketika ini.

“Siasatan perlu dilakukan segera bagi mengenal pasti punca sebenar kenaikan ini berlaku dan pada masa sama memastikan ia tidak terus berleluasa,” katanya kepada FMT.

Malah, beliau berkata, sudah tiba masanya kerajaan mempertimbangkan untuk menetapkan kembali harga siling bagi minyak masak yang dibotolkan dan dimasukkan dalam senarai harga barangan kawalan supaya rakyat tidak terus menderita.

“Pengguna sudah tertekan dengan pelaksanaan perintah kawalan pergerakan yang mengehadkan sumber pendapatan mereka, malah dalam tempoh berkurung juga, kita lihat trend penggunaan minyak masak adalah tinggi kerana tempoh berada di rumah lebih lama berbanding sebelum ini.

“Tidak patut pengguna terus diseksa dengan pelbagai kenaikan harga barangan asas yang ternyata tidak munasabah,” katanya.

Tinjauan FMT di beberapa lokasi sekitar Selangor juga mendapati harga minyak masak 5kg ketika ini dijual pada harga RM28.90 hingga 34.50. Harga itu meningkat lebih RM5 setiap botol berbanding RM23.90 hingga RM27.90 pada Ramadan lalu.

Seorang pengurus stor sebuah pasar raya, yang dikenali sebagai Nor Fazilah memberitahu FMT bahawa kenaikan itu berlaku sejak minggu lalu.

“Ya, memang ada peningkatan sejak minggu lalu. Pembekal maklumkan ia berpunca daripada kenaikan kos syarikat pengeluar menyebabkan pemborong turut menaikkan harga,” katanya.

Selain minyak masak sawit, katanya, minyak masak pelbagai jenis juga mengalami sedikit peningkatan, antaranya minyak jagung dan bunga matahari.

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Sunday, 06 Jun 2021
Malaysians should try to limit trips to buy groceries to reduce the risk of being exposed to Covid-19. Don’t be too fussy about food choices either during such hard times, experts advise. 

BUY groceries to last for two weeks, store food in optimum ways and don’t be too fussy about available choices. Such are the words of advice to consumers, so that they can cut down on trips to supermarkets, wet markets and stores to limit exposure to Covid-19 and its variants.

It has become crucial to stay home as much as possible, with the rise of sporadic cases and new infections looming in thousands each day in Malaysia. Shopping online is one of the safer ways to get fresh produce and avoid crowds, but due to high traffic, there are times when orders are delayed or items are unavailable. 

If this is not an option, experts urge people to limit their grocery runs to once in two weeks, instead of weekly.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) deputy secretary general Nur Asyikin Aminuddin says it’s possible to buy fresh food that can last up to two weeks. “But we need to keep them under optimum condition.

“The freshness of the food will deteriorate with time. But consumers should not be too fussy at such critical times. “More importantly, we still have food on our table, ” she says. With the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, Nur Asyikin calls on consumers to stop crowding in enclosed areas to stock up on groceries.

“Retailers should also improve their online services for the benefit of customers, ” she adds. Recently, people were seen flocking to supermarkets immediately after the government announced a total lockdown from June 1 to 14.

This is despite the authorities assuring that there is sufficient food supply during the movement control order (MCO) and no shortages in previous lockdowns. On such panic buying, Nur Asyikin urges consumers to change this bad habit, as it can lead to overbuying and food wastage. Concurring that Malaysians shouldn’t be choosy, Nutrition Society of Malaysia president Dr Tee E. Siong says consumers should be prepared to use alternatives.

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June 6, 2021 1:54 PM
PETALING JAYA: A consumer group said senior citizens have been severely affected by the sharp increase in their medical premiums, based on a recent survey it carried out.

And now the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) wants Bank Negara Malaysia to step in to protect the community.

Its secretary-general, Paul Selvaraj, said senior citizens relied on their savings to meet their daily expenses.

And very often, he said, their primary savings are from their Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Yet, data shows that over 50% of EPF contributors aged above 54 have savings of below RM50,000, while 67% of contributors do not have a minimum of RM240,000.

To compound matters, Selvaraj said the cost of living, especially the cost of food and other essential items, had been increasing substantially.
“The sharp and unjustified increases by the insurance companies put pressure on senior citizens to lapse in paying their premiums and thus they lose their coverage,” he said in a statement.

According to the survey, 42% of the respondents saw a 20% to 230% increase on the premiums they had been paying.

And with no regulator to protect the consumers’ well-being, Selvaraj claimed that these insurance companies were free to “increase their premiums whenever they liked and by how much they liked”.

These could inveitably lead the elderly to forgo their coverage, he added.

“This is a cruel approach towards senior citizens. But without protection by the regulators, it appears that consumers, especially the senior citizens, are at the mercy of the insurance companies if they want to maintain their coverage.”

Selveraj requested that the central bank regulate the industry to ensure greater justice and fairness for the people, especially the vulnerable groups.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/06/06/senior-citizens-severely-hit-by-increase-in-insurance-premiums-says-fomca/

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May 29, 2021 @ 5:56pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has demanded the government to reinstate a blanket loan moratorium for six months as the country goes into total lockdown next week.

Apart from that, Fomca president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason called the government to halt salary payment for members of parliament and state assemblymen during the lockdown period.

"Since the Parliament and state assemblies are not functioning, why should MPs and state assemblymen be paid for idling on their couch at home?

"Instead, the government should provide at least RM3,000 financial aid for every B40 (bottom 40 per cent) household for six months. Similar assistance should be given to M40 (middle 40 per cent) households as well.
"Utility bills should also not be raised for these households.

"Taxpayers must be exempted from paying income tax as their jobs are hanging in the balance due to the government's short-sighted decisions.

"Likewise, individuals who sell their properties during this period must be exempted from taxes," he told the New Straits Times today.

Marimuthu also urged for bankruptcy proceedings to be deferred at the moment.

Instead, he called for the government to expedite the Covid-19 vaccination drive and provide students with iPad for them to follow home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/694164/fomca-demands-moratorium-salary-cut-mps-ahead-lockdown?topicID=1&articleID=694164

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23 MAY 2021 / 23:15 H
THE demand for electricity is rowing in lockstep with technological advancements. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities to reduce energy cost in industrial and commercial sectors.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act provides significant benefits to industrial and commercial sectors, particularly in terms of lowering energy cost.

By introducing energy efficiency programmes, the industrial sector will increase economic productivity through energy-efficient technologies and processes.

In addition, the registered energy manager will keep track of their usage and make recommendations to increase their performance based on their operations. This would have a direct impact on energy use and bill.

The Energy Audit Conditional Grant 2.0 (EACG 2.0) provides financial assistance to commercial and industrial customers in deploying energy-saving measures.

EACG 2.0, in collaboration with local Energy Service Companies, will enable energy audit on buildings. Buildings can achieve energy saving under the Low Carbon Building Assessment by Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda).

Low Carbon Building Assessment will contribute to companies committing to sustainability goals such as going 100% clean or zero carbon.

The government’s green technology incentives can be used to support green industrial revolution efforts. Hence, the commercial and industrial sectors should be pioneers in energy transition rather than wait for government policy to forge a path.

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GABUNGAN Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) mencadangkan empat strategi mudah dalam memastikan tempoh pelanggan berada di dalam pusat beli-belah kurang daripada dua jam.

Timbalan Presidennya, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, antaranya pengguna boleh menyediakan senarai barang yang ingin dibeli terlebih dahulu sebelum ke pasar raya.

“Pembeli sepatutnya menyediakan senarai barang yang ingin dibeli, jadi dia akan terus pergi ke rak barangan yang ingin dibeli sahaja.

“Masalah yang berlaku sekarang ini apabila tiada senarai, itu punca pengguna mengambil masa untuk memikirkan barang yang hendak dibeli dan berpusing-pusing di dalam pasar raya.

“Dalam keadaan sekarang, pengguna perlu amalkan cara seperti ini untuk mengelakkan daripada berlakunya situasi berkumpul secara beramai-ramai,” katanya ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian pada Ahad.

Sementara itu, Mohd Yusof berkata, pasar raya perlu menyediakan kaedah ‘imbas dan bayar’ yang akan memudahkan pengguna serta pekerjanya.

“Kita boleh ambil contoh pasar raya Lotus yang menggunakan aplikasi imbas dan bayar.

“Pelanggan perlu imbas sendiri barang yang ingin dibeli di rak barangan dan kemudian apabila sampai di kaunter, akan terus buat bayaran tanpa perlu diimbas lagi.

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May 10, 2021 11:39 PM
PETALING JAYA: Majikan dan kumpulan pengguna berbeza pandangan berhubung pelaksanaan perintah kawalan pergerakan di seluruh negara mulai Rabu ini, dengan seorang pemimpin persatuan pengguna berkata, terlalu banyak keputusan “flip flop” oleh kerajaan.

Presiden FOMCA, N Marimuthu berkata, pengumuman PKP ketiga secara tiba-tiba mengejutkan ramai pihak. selepas menteri Kabinet sebulan lalu menyatakan tiada lagi PKP di seluruh negara.

“Kemarahan rakyat terhadap keputusan kerajaan yang berubah-ubah sangat teruk,” katanya kepada FMT.

Beliau menggesa kerajaan melaksanakan moratorium pinjaman selama tiga bulan serta-merta dan menyediakan bantuan bulanan sebanyak RM1,000 kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah B40 serta RM500 kepada golongan berpendapatan sederhana M40.

PKP 3.0 di seluruh negara bermula 12 Mei hingga 7 Jun diumumkan hari ini dengan sekolah ditutup, manakala aktiviti sosial, termasuk ziarah Hari Raya tidak dibenarkan. Semua sektor ekonomi bagaimanapun dibenarkan beroperasi dengan arahan bekerja dari rumah dilaksanakan.

Keperluan PKP

Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Subang dan Shah Alam, Jacob Geoge berkata, pihaknya menyokong pelaksanaan PKP kerana sektor ekonomi masih dibenarkan beroperasi.

“Kami tidak melihat apa-apa halangan besar. Kerajaan perlu mengambil tindakan untuk mengurangkan kadar jangkitan.”

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May 10, 2021 @ 4:07pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has called on people with medical insurance policies to report any price hike in their premiums.

Fomca president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason urged consumers who have not been notified of price increases in their medical insurance to contact their agents and enquire if there is indeed any increase in their premiums.

"Fomca has been recently receiving many complaints from medical insurance policy holders of indiscriminate increases in the price of their premiums.

"We are concerned of how extensive this issue is and how many consumers have been affected by the price increase.
"Currently, with conditional lockdowns, many consumers have been severely affected, either through loss of jobs or reduction in incomes.

"This is certainly not the time to increase insurance premiums," he said in a statement today.

Marimuthu stressed that it was wrong and unacceptable for insurance companies to raise premiums to make excessive profits at a time when consumers were suffering.

If many consumers come forward with similar complaints, he said, Fomca would launch a national campaign to urge Bank Negara Malaysia to stem the increase in medical premiums.

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May 10, 2021 9:44 PM
PETALING JAYA: Bosses and consumer groups are divided in their reactions to the latest nationwide MCO, with one consumer leader saying there had been too many flip-flops and Putrajaya needs to buck up.

Fomca president N Marimuthu said the third movement control order came too suddenly and the announcement had caught many by surprise after Cabinet ministers had been saying there would not be another lockdown as recently as a month ago.

“The anger on the ground with the government’s flip-flop is really bad,” he told FMT.

He urged the government to impose a loan moratorium for three months with immediate effect, and provide monthly aid of RM1,000 each for those in the lower-income B40 group and RM500 each for middle-income M40 people.

A third nationwide lockdown, from May 12 to June 7, was announced earlier today, with schools closed and social activities including Hari Raya visits banned. All economic sectors will be allowed to operate, but under work-from-home conditions.
Lockdown necessary

Consumers’ Association of Subang and Shah Alam president Jacob George said the association is in support of the lockdown, because economic sectors are allowed to operate.

“We do not see any major impediment. The government has to take measures to reduce the rate of infections,” he added.

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May 10, 2021 1:52 PM
PETALING JAYA: A consumer group has slammed the alleged increase in medical insurance premiums, saying the move is ill-timed.

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) said it has received several complaints from policyholders over the increase recently.

It said many policyholders are affected, especially because the movement restrictions have either affected incomes or led to retrenchment.

“This is not the time to increase insurance premiums,” Fomca president Marimuthu Nadason said in a statement.

“It is wrong and unacceptable for insurance companies, at this time, to raise premium prices to make excessive profits. Consumers are already suffering.”

He urged those affected by higher premiums to inform the association, and those who have not received any notices of price increases to inquire with their agents.

Marimuthu said Fomca would launch a national campaign to urge Bank Negara Malaysia to stop the increase in premiums.

BNM, as a regulator, should have already “pre-emptively” directed insurance companies not to increase premiums at this point of time, he said.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/05/10/its-not-the-time-to-raise-premiums-fomca-tells-insurance-firms/