Four injured as restaurant steamboat stove explodes
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June 20, 2022 @ 10:38am
KOTA KINABALU: A hotpot cooker exploded last night injuring four people including two children at a steamboat eatery.
The Fire and Rescue department received a call at 9.06pm on the incident at Bu Zainah Conner at Alam Mesra near here.
"Before the rescue team arrived at the scene, those at the eatery had sent the two children to the hospital.
"The two injured adults, Wujon Maria Mae and Roberto Antoni, were treated by Health Ministry personnel at the scene before being taken to hospital," it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in Kota Marudu, two people were injured when their house at Kampung Bombong 1 was destroyed in a fire last night.
In the 11.50pm incident, Jaison Masiwol, 49 and his wife Julimah Sabia, 45, suffered burns and were taken to the district hospital for treatment.
District Fire and Rescue chief Rony Sikawan said they received a distress call at 11.52pm and a six-man team was deployed to the scene.
He said preliminary information suggested that the fire could have started from the kitchen.
"Both victims were aware of the fire when their child woke them up," he said, adding that the operation ended at 1am.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/806417/four-injured-restaurant-steamboat-stove-explodes
Fishermen's market a shell of its former self
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June 20, 2022 @ 9:15am
ALOR STAR: When Salmiah Ramli first became a fishmonger, there was never a shortage of fish to sell.
The Kuala Kedah fishermen's market was a hive of activity, with customers jostling with each other to secure the freshest catch of the day from barrels of fish supplied by fishermen who tirelessly made the journey out to sea every day.
A decade later, the market is a shadow of its former self.
Only four stalls remain open for business.
The four fishmongers, including Salmiah, no longer have a wealth of choices. They sell the little that the fishermen bring in for them on any given day.
Salmiah, 58, said supply had improved slightly.
In the past few weeks, bad weather had prevented fishermen from going out to sea.
However, the overall situation remains grim.
"When I first started selling here in 2010, we had many barrels of fish to sell. The market was teeming with fishmongers and business was great.
"However, supplies have dwindled over the years. Things have also gotten worse over the past four months," she told the New Straits Times.
She said the acute shortage of fish, caused by unpredictable weather, is putting a strain on coastal fishermen.
Fomca lauds govt's move to introduce new mechanism for food prices
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June 14, 2022 @ 7:14pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) has welcomed the government's decision to implement a new mechanism to manage the ceiling prices of goods.
Chief executive officer T. Saravanan said the government was trying its best to maintain the country's food supply and that the new mechanism would help in this effort.
"The new mechanism for prices of food is a good move. Of course, (the government) has looked into various factors before deciding upon it. The (price mechanism) will follow the market's situation.
"We also saw a statement by the prime minister saying that the government will play an important role in the supply chain of the agro-businesses. It is the correct course of action. However, we must also look into integrity issues to ensure that everything is done accurately and in proper order," he said.
Saravanan said it was a good idea for the government to eliminate the subsidies for chicken suppliers because none of them had approached it for assistance.
He said this was crucial, following claims of a livestock-related cartel and supply manipulation.
He cited the government's decision to ensure that subsidies benefit the people who need them the most.
"In the long term, as the prime minister stated, we must look into the cooperation between the state and federal governments and build an agricultural sector of quality."
Saravanan said Fomca would support the new price mechanism provided that the government maintains the nation's food supply.
Read more: Fomca lauds govt's move to introduce new mechanism for food prices
FOMCA welcomes move to reintroduce GST
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June 1, 2022 @ 5:25pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) welcomed the move to reintroduce the goods and services tax (GST).
Its president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason agrees the move will directly contribute to increasing the national income.
He told the New Straits Times today that the implementation of GST was effective when it was introduced in 2015.
"But then we scrapped that off and introduced sales and services tax (SST), which had somehow created loopholes for some people to avoid paying their tax reimbursement.
"So by introducing GST again, it would directly help the government, especially in terms of tax collection.
"We see it's as being the most economically developed countries have applied this move and it helps them to build their countries and their people.
"The concept here is that 'if you buy more, you pay more, hence people don't have to worry if they're not in the threshold," he said.
He declined to comment on whether now is the right time for the government to reintroduce GST.
"What I can say is that it will help the national economy, which can later will help to the people," he said.
Reuters quoting a Nikkei report on Tuesday said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob saying that the government was 'keen' on re-introduce GST.
He was reported as saying that the government would target a GST rate that stood in between affordable by the people and not too low to defeat its purpose.
'Projek sakit' bebankan pembeli, resahkan pemaju
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20 Jun 2022
KUALA LUMPUR - Michael (bukan nama sebenar) membeli sebuah unit hartanah berstrata pada 2017, namun tidak lama selepas Perjanjian Jual Beli (SPA) ditandatangani, dia mula perasan akan tanda-tanda 'tidak sihat' pada projek itu.
Pembinaan projek perumahan itu sering tergendala termasuk hampir setahun terhenti sebelum disambung semula. Itupun hanya selepas pembeli mengadu kepada Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) serta mendapatkan bantuan daripada Persatuan Pembeli Rumah Kebangsaan (HBA).
"Namun kini pembinaan terhenti terus dengan projek hanya 55 peratus siap,” katanya kepada Bernama.
Menurutnya, dia kembali ke KPKT untuk membuat aduan, namun dimaklumkan oleh kementerian itu bahawa projek tersebut sudah 'hampir-hampir menjadi projek terbengkalai'.
"Kami sebagai pembeli, sudah tidak tahu apa lagi yang harus dilakukan,” keluh Michael.
Berdasarkan portal KPKT, sesebuah projek pembangunan dikategorikan sebagai 'projek sakit' apabila kemajuan pembinaan mengalami kelewatan lebih 30 peratus berbanding yang dijadualkan atau SPA telah luput tarikh.
TIDAK TAHU HAK
Seorang lagi mangsa projek sakit, Siti Hawa (bukan nama sebenar) dan suaminya membeli sebuah unit berstrata di bawah program perumahan mampu milik pada 2018, dan sepatutnya menerima kunci untuk unit mereka yang bernilai RM300,000 itu pada Mei 2022. Namun katanya hingga kini kediaman yang diimpikan masih belum siap.
Menurut Siti Hawa, sejak awal lagi sudah ada 'yang tidak kena' dengan projek berkenaan, namun sebagai pembeli rumah kali pertama, dia dan suaminya tidak tahu akan hak mereka.
Gagal beri perkhidmatan bermutu, pembekal internet berdepan tindakan
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19 Jun 2022
KUALA LUMPUR - Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia (MCMC) akan mengenakan tindakan kawal selia terhadap pembekal yang didapati gagal menyediakan perkhidmatan internet berkualiti.
Ketua Pegawai Kawal Selia MCMC Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin berkata, ini adalah pendekatan agresif terhadap pembekal agar dapat memberi perkhidmatan yang bermutu kepada pengguna.
"Pada masa sama, pengguna dapat merasai pengalaman berkualiti yang benar-benar memenuhi apa yang dijanjikan oleh perkhidmatan 4G ini,” katanya dalam program Buletin Bernama terbitan Bernama TV pada Ahad.
Beliau berkata, pembekal yang gagal memenuhi janji itu berdepan hukuman mengikut Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998 iaitu denda tidak melebihi RM300,000 atau penjara sehingga tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.
Zulkarnain berkata, pihaknya menerima arahan daripada Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia (K-KOMM) untuk melaksanakan audit perkhidmatan jaringan sistem internet di semua kawasan di setiap negeri.
"Setakat ini, kita telah jalankan audit atau pemeriksaan dengan melihat dari segi liputan dan kelajuan. Pada masa sama, kita telah mengeluarkan arahan untuk mereka (pembekal) mengambil tindakan untuk membaiki perkhidmatan,” katanya.
Sebelum ini, K-KOMM mengarahkan MCMC untuk melaksanakan pemetaan di seluruh negara bagi mengukur tahap sebenar kelajuan internet dan membandingkannya dengan laporan oleh syarikat telekomunikasi. - Bernama
LETTER | AirAsia and Mavcom's misleading stand on refunds
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Jun 16, 2022 11:28 AM
LETTER | I refer to your news dated 10 June 2022 titled 'AirAsia Aviation Group says refunds nearly completed'.
Capital A Group CEO Tony Fernandes said “AirAsia airlines have already paid back nearly everyone. AirAsia has opened the world to so many people and the majority of our guests decided to take a credit shell to help us which we thank them for. Now that travel restrictions have been removed substantially in our major markets, we saw that many of our guests have already utilised their credit shells to start travelling again.”
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said “It’s great to be back in the air after two long years in hibernation. We have resumed flights to Sydney, Delhi and Seoul already and are planning to announce a number of new routes in the near future to our most popular destinations and even more.
“We understand the frustration from our guests who were waiting for reimbursement caused by flight cancellations during the pandemic. However, we are ensuring they get back what they paid for future use, in the form of full credits for such amounts paid, by way of travel vouchers.”
Two years ago, I booked an AirAsia flight to Australia. However, the flight was cancelled by AirAsia due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AirAsia then decided to issue credit accounts without offering other refund options.
The truth is that all passengers like me wanted a refund and not by way of a credit account or travel voucher. By holding back passengers’ money, can AirAsia clarify what it really meant by saying that it has already paid back almost all passengers?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “refund” means an amount of money that is given back to you, especially because you are not happy with a product or service that you have bought and “reimbursement” means the act of paying back money to someone who has spent it for you or lost it because of you, or the amount that is paid back.
Read more: LETTER | AirAsia and Mavcom's misleading stand on refunds
Maybank warns customers about online fraudsters, fake apps
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06- 16- 2022 09:22 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has warned consumers to be aware of online fraudsters finding new ways to scam unsuspecting users, especially given the recent rise in e-commerce activity spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement today, the bank said as more consumers opt to transact online, scammers are finding opportunities to trick consumers using new and sophisticated scam tactics.
It also said that on top of developing fake banking websites or apps to lure or phish customers, scammers have now incorporated malware components in fake law enforcement apps and fake retail e-commerce websites or apps to gain access to customers’ online banking information such as their user names and passwords.
“A common scam that customers might fall prey to begins with them coming across an unbelievably cheap deal or advertisement on a social media website,” said the bank.
Maybank said some useful tips customers can follow to protect themselves when using online platforms include avoiding installing/downloading apps/APK files or clicking on suspicious links sent via chat messages such as SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger or other similar services.
“Apart from that, do not provide permission for any app to send or view your SMSes, and do not ignore any warnings from your devices, especially when downloading or installing a new file.
“Do not enter your banking details, especially username or password, in any suspicious apps or websites, among others,” it added.
It also affirmed that Maybank continuously shares informative content on its Maybank2u website and on Facebook and Instagram, in an effort to remind and create awareness among customers about the dangers of malware scams.
Read more: Maybank warns customers about online fraudsters, fake apps
'Don't take us for a ride, with free rides, fix the public transport system'
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June 17, 2022 @ 10:23am
KUALA LUMPUR: Netizens called on the government to upgrade and improve the country's public transport system instead of offering one-off freebies, which they said will not help ease their commute.
The barrage of comments spotlighting Malaysia's inefficient public transport system and poorly maintained facilities, including lifts and escalators at stations operated by RapidKL as well as KTM Komuter in the Klang Valley, were shared on Twitter and Facebook.
The remarks came following the government's announcement yesterday that the public can use the public transport systems in the Klang Valley without paying a sen for one month starting yesterday.
"I repeat. I would rather you (stakeholders) fix the trains than do this. What's the point of giving out free rides if we can't even commute to begin with? Or did they mysteriously forget about the lack of trains at Pasar Seni recently?", a netizen tweeted.
"Fix the escalator and lift too please, especially at station MRT Kajang and MRT Pasar Seni," another wrote.
"Price not an issue if the service is efficient. Why does the ministry never get this?," a frequent commuter asked.
"Don't take us for a ride with free rides. This still doesn't solve the problem as there will still be long lines at transit stations like Pasar Seni. Why not increase train frequency? Get the public transport system fixed," a netizen said.
Another commuter wrote: "I'm scared of the repercussions of this. Train stations will only get more crowded.
"One month of free public transport rides but almost everything malfunctions or has some sort of problem, especially at Pasar Seni.
Read more: 'Don't take us for a ride, with free rides, fix the public transport system'
'Chicken prices may soar if floated'
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June 16, 2022 @ 7:05pm
PUTRAJAYA: Chicken prices are expected to rise next month when the floating price system begins following the end of the maximum retail price scheme on June 30.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said due to the possibility of chicken price hikes, the Finance Ministry planned to provide aid to the needy, with the plan set to be finalised by the end of the month.
"The Finance Ministry will do something to help those in need," he told a press conference after the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's monthly assembly here today.
The government has set the maximum retail price of standard chicken at RM8.90 per kg and super chicken (slaughtered and cleaned without legs, head, liver and gizzard) at RM9.90 per kg.
Previously, chicken breeders had expressed their hope that the government would allow the floating of chicken prices after it decided to end subsidies for breeders from July 1.
Nanta reminded industry players not to take advantage of the floating price by raising the price of chicken arbitrarily.
He said the ministry would monitor prices and errant traders would face action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
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