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December 26, 2021 2:59 PM
HULU LANGAT: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will give a one-off 100% rebate for December electricity bills to domestic customers affected by floods, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said a total of 72,000 domestic customers would benefit from the rebate.
“This doesn’t involve factories, it is only for houses. As an extension of the various assistance given so far, there will be a rebate on the December electricity bill.
“I have also asked TNB to help B40 homes affected by the floods when the electricity supply is reconnected,” he told a press conference after visiting areas affected by the floods in Hulu Langat, including in Taman Sri Nanding and Kampung Dusun Tua, where cleanup work was in progress, here today.
He said the energy company had been carrying out free wiring inspections at flood-affected houses in Selangor, Pahang and Kuala Lumpur since last Friday.
Apart from that, Ismail said Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) would provide free towing service for Perodua vehicles based on the vehicles’ insurance coverage.
He said Perodua had agreed to forego labour charges to repair and service vehicles sent to its service centres and would offer a 50% discount on spare parts.
“I understand that finance minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Aziz will negotiate again with other car companies such as Proton.
“I hope other companies can emulate what Perodua is doing,” he said.
Ismail said the government would increase the initial allocation of RM100 million to repair flood-damaged houses and infrastructure.
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December 25, 2021 @ 4:56pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The aftermath of the massive flood that struck several states in the country since last week was devastating and in its aftermath, floodwater damage as well mud-soaked household items are no longer of use, with all now left piled up to be thrown away.
The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) Education Officer N. V. Subbarow said local councils in the respective states must have a proper post-flood waste management system, in the face of the annual inundation.
"Since this (floodings) has become an annual affair affecting the people, the councils must come up with proper waste management system.
"The post-flood garbage is huge and they have to clear it within a short period. Almost nothing can be recycled, mattresses, and others, all will pile up in landfills.
"They should have proper plans and active it whenever needed," he told the New Straits Times today.
He said local councils should set up more bulk rubbish disposal bins in housing estates and frequent collection intervals to reduce more waste being dumped outside their home.
Subbarow also suggested for waste segregation for more effective waste management.
Several states including Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang were hit with massive floods displacing thousands from their homes since last week.
While heavy downpours and outdated drainage were blamed for the flood, Subbarow believes the dumping of plastics also contributed to the inundation.
There are instances where plastic waste dumped had clogged-up rivers and drains.
Read more: Local councils need post-flood waste management system
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Disiarkan pada: November 30, 2021 @ 8:13am
Kajang: Pengguna dinasihat menggunakan kuasa mereka termasuk membuat perbandingan harga serta membuat pilihan premis yang meletakkan tanda harga jelas dengan menawarkan harga dan perkhidmatan berpatutan.
Pengarah Penguatkuasa Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP), Azman Adam berkata, kuasa pengguna adalah langkah pencegahan terbaik sebelum pengguna terkeliru atau dimanipulasi oleh peniaga yang tidak bertanggungjawab.
Menurutnya, pihaknya mengambil maklum berhubung isu kenaikan harga barang yang dilaporkan di media arus perdana dan media sosial.
"KPDNHEP sentiasa melakukan penguatkuasaan serta pemeriksaan untuk menangani isu kenaikan harga barang yang dilaporkan melalui pelbagai pendekatan berterusan dan agresif antaranya melalui pelaksanaan
Ops Menu di seluruh Negara.
"Pelaksanaan Ops Menu ini adalah khusus bertujuan bagi memantau dan menangani isu harga makanan bermasak mulai 6 November 2021 yang lalu," katanya pada sidang media selepas Ops Menu di beberapa premis restoran ikan bakar di Bangi, di sini, malam tadi.
Azman berkata, dalam Ops ini setakat petang semalam, sebanyak 3,770 pemeriksaan dilakukan dan daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 27 tindakan kes diambil ke atas peniaga yang melakukan kesalahan.
"Kementerian juga akan terus melaksanakan sesi libat urus bersama Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Makanan (Mafi) serta agensi di bawahnya serta pemain industri berkaitan untuk mencari kaedah terbaik bagi menyekat kenaikan harga secara mendadak di pasaran.
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November 24, 2021 1:35 PM
PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysians aged 30 to 45 are expected to go bankrupt by next year when most government aid packages end, the Malaysian Association of Borrowers and Consumers Solution said.
The association’s president, Rosland Mohd Arif, said this will happen when bank moratoriums, EPF withdrawals and i-Sinar packages come to an end.
“We have received bankruptcy calls from all over the country. If there are 30 calls a day, that’s 900 a month and 10,800 a year,” he was quoted as saying in an Utusan Malaysia report.
Rosland said he had also received reports from borrowers who claimed they were threatened by loan sharks who charged interest rates as high as 6% a month.
He urged the government to step in and help those with financial difficulties and others facing bankruptcy before they are forced to look to loan sharks for help.
“We are willing to work with the government in resolving these bankruptcy and debt issues by acting as consultants so that they are not chased by the bank or other parties,” he said.
Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/24/more-young-people-will-go-bankrupt-when-aid-packages-end-warns-group/
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November 23, 2021 @ 3:37pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has turned to digital platforms in its enforcement and advocacy efforts, following a shift in consumer trends, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said consumer behaviour has seen a significant change where more online purchases made and selected in favour of physical shopping following restrictions in movements due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the ministry aimed at educating consumers in making wise decisions on purchases and exercise their rights by providing easy access to lodge complaints like unfair pricing through Ez ADU and the e-aduan portal, as well as Price Catcher app.
He said the Ez ADU app, which allows the public to lodge complaints was being upgraded in keeping up with consumer needs and technology, citing the recent tyre price hike.
"Some consumers complained of the difference in prices of tyres pre-MCO (Movement Control Order) and post-MCO (through the app).
"Our officers have taken action and the price of tyres has seen a reduction the week after the report was lodged," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (PH-Hang Tuah Jaya).
Meanwhile the Price Catcher app helps consumers in making price comparisons according to the types of items based on their locations.
"The Price Catcher app, which has so far been downloaded by 32,000 users, helps consumers to plan their purchase and be more alert on price changes.
"Meanwhile, the MySale Tracker app contains information on the latest sales at business premises nearby," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat (GPS-PBB-Betong).
Read more: KPDNHEP optimises digital platforms following shift in consumer trends
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November 23, 2021 @ 11:01am
Georgetown: Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) menggesa Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) serta Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan (FAMA) mengambil langkah segera menangani kenaikan harga sayur-sayuran yang meningkat sehingga 200 peratus sejak dua minggu lalu.
Ia susulan aduan yang diterima CAP daripada peruncit mengenai kenaikan harga barangan berkenaan.
Presidennya Mohideen Abdul Kader berkata, beberapa peruncit mengadu bahawa pengedar dan pemborong sudah memberi amaran bahawa harga sayur-sayuran lain mungkin akan naik dalam beberapa minggu akan datang.
Katanya, sayuran itu membabitkan kubis bunga daripada harga RM7 kepada RM16 sekilogram, sawi pendek RM3 kepada RM9, brokoli RM8 kepada RM20 dan sawi RM5 kepada RM8.
"Turut mengalami kenaikan ialah kacang buncis dari harga RM8 kepada RM15 sekilogram, kubis RM4 kepada RM6, cili merah RM13 kepada RM19 dan cili hijau RM10 kepada RM14.
"Sehubungan itu, CAP menyeru Bahagian Penguatkuasa KPDNHEP supaya menyiasat kenaikan harga berkenaan memandangkan ia akan memberi kesan kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah," katanya menerusi kenyataan di sini, hari ini.
Menurut Mohideen lagi, tindakan tegas perlu diambil terhadap peniaga yang menaikkan harga secara berlebihan serta melanggar Akta Anti-Pencatutan 2010.
"CAP juga berulang kali menyeru supaya FAMA mengawal pemasaran dan pengedaran sayur-sayuran di negara ini tetapi seruan kami tidak didengari," katanya lagi.
Sumber: https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/11/780485/ambil-langkah-tangani-kenaikan-harga-sayur-cap
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November 11, 2021 7:21 PM
GEORGE TOWN: Insurance premiums for vehicles are likely to stay at the same level in the coming year despite a lower number of accidents and thefts during the pandemic and lockdown periods.
Lee Yen Ming, who runs a Bank Negara-approved insurance comparison site, said this was because the number of claims had remained high before the pandemic.
He said before the pandemic, the claim ratios “had exceeded 100%” before the lockdowns began.
Despite fewer claims made during the lockdown periods, premiums were likely to stay the same, as insurers try to recoup their losses, Lee said.
“Insurers will have to account for some of the shortfalls faced before the pandemic,” the PolicyStreet.com CEO said during a webinar today.
Lee anticipated that future calculations of insurance premium payments would go high-tech, based on telematics.
Telematics involves using a tracker fitted into a car to determine how gently or roughly a vehicle is driven. It also helps in the recovery of a vehicle in case of theft, as it is built-in with global-positioning system (GPS) tracking.
Lee said insurers would then reward customers who drove well and economically under this telematics system, offering discounts on their annual premiums.
He said the telematics move will see the phasing out of traditional, fixed-price premiums currently in use, giving way to personalised premiums based on the driver’s risk profile.
Read more: Vehicle insurance premiums likely to remain unchanged
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November 10, 2021 @ 12:02am
LETTERS: The financial literacy among our youth is alarmingly low, according to the headline of one article in this newspaper last year.
The Insolvency Department said 84,805 Malaysians were declared bankrupt between 2015 and 2019, with people below 34 making up 26 per cent of the cases.
Even more worrying, Bank Negara Malaysia stated that 47 per cent of Malaysian youth had high credit card debt.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about further challenges that has impacted society.
The Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey 2020 further highlights the worrying levels of financial literacy in the nation. The survey found that personal finance habits of Malaysians have not improved since 2019.
Also, 53 per cent of respondents could not survive more than three months with their savings, if they lose their job. Malaysians are also found to be spending what they earn or more than what they earn.
Another major concern is the lack of retirement planning.
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November 6, 2021 9:15 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: A retired woman lecturer was fleeced of RM1.8 million after receiving a call, supposedly from a Telekom Malaysia officer, accusing her of being involved in online gambling and money laundering.
Kuala Lumpur Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) deputy chief Tan Poh Cheok said the 80-year-old victim lodged a police report on Monday after realising that she had been cheated.
On Oct 1, the caller told her to make several cash transfers amounting to RM730,000, apart from asking her to hand over her ATM card.
Following that, the victim discovered that large sums had been withdrawn from her account and that she lost RM1.8 million in total, Tan said in a statement today.
The public are reminded not to disclose their account details and OTP/TAC numbers to anyone on the telephone even if they claim to be from investigating agencies.
“Report any suspicious activity to the Kuala Lumpur police hotline at 03-2146 0584/0585 or any nearby police station,” Tan added.
Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/06/retired-lecturer-loses-rm1-8mil-after-scam-call/
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KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 14): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) welcomes the Financial Management & Resilience Programme (URUS) by Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) and the banking industry, which seeks to aid B50 borrowers with performing loans who have lost their jobs or who are experiencing income loss of at least 50%.
In a statement on Thursday, the central bank said eligible borrowers who wish to apply for the programme can approach their banks starting from Nov 15, 2021 to Jan 31, 2022.
"BNM has been working with AKPK to put in place a holistic debt management and financial planning solution. The aim is to provide appropriate support to borrowers so that they not only meet their loan obligations but importantly, return to a firmer financial footing.
"This will strengthen the financial resilience of borrowers in the longer term," said governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus.
Meanwhile, the central bank also encouraged those that are not eligible for URUS to also approach their banks to discuss other repayment solutions that suit their financial circumstances.
It said borrowers and customers facing any difficulty with their applications may contact BNMTELELINK at bnm.my/RAsurvey to seek assistance, and that they may obtain more information on the new scheme by visiting banks' and AKPK's websites.
There will be further enhancements to BNM's Fund for SMEs in the Budget 2022, added the bank, targeted at assisting businesses in their cash flow management and reposition themselves with the reopening of the economy.
Read more: URUS programme to assist B50 borrowers who have lost jobs, income — BNM
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