Govt should expand food aid programmes, says Fomca
- Details
PETALING JAYA: The findings on food inflation over the decades by the Statistics Department (DOSM) is a call to action for reforms, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).
鈥淓ither we reform now, or we risk deepening inequality, worsening malnutrition, and undermining Malaysia鈥檚 economic and social resilience,鈥 said secretary-general Saravanan Thambirajah.
He was commenting on the department鈥檚 report that found a threefold increase in food prices in the past five decades.
鈥淲e must ensure every Malaysian has affordable access to nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate food, regardless of income level or geography.
鈥淔or that, consumer empowerment must be matched by bold policy shifts, inclusive fiscal planning, and sustained political will. Only then can we build a resilient, just, and food-secure Malaysia for the next generation.鈥
Saravanan said the B40 and M40 segments are using multiple coping strategies which are not sustainable in the long term.
They include borrowing money or using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option to afford groceries and switching to lower quality food such as instant noodles and ultra-processed goods.
Read more: Govt should expand food aid programmes, says Fomca
HK Consumer Council and FOMCA ink deal to resolve cross-border consumer disputes
- Details
Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) and the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration on cross-border consumer disputes.
This agreement aims to establish an information exchange and complaint referral mechanism, strengthening cooperation between the two parties in resolving cross-border consumer disputes.
As the fifth MOU that the HKCC has signed with a consumer body in Asia, following similar agreements with the Korea Consumer Agency in 2017, the National Consumer Affairs Centre of Japan in 2018, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) in 2019, and the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) in 2024, this MOU together with the other four underscore a shared commitment in enhancing protection for consumers in the region and boosting consumer confidence.
Under the agreement, residents of either Hong Kong or Malaysia involved in consumer disputes with traders in the other party鈥檚 territory may lodge complaints with their local consumer body upon returning to their place of residence.
With the complainant鈥檚 prior consent, their local consumer body can refer the details and relevant documents of the complaint case to the other consumer body, which would then assist the consumer in resolving the dispute.
Read more: HK Consumer Council and FOMCA ink deal to resolve cross-border consumer disputes
鈥楶ut on hold鈥: Stakeholders want Malaysian government to review expanded Sales and Service Tax
- Details
They said concerns have been raised over the SST鈥檚 cascading nature, lack of clarity and potential to erode household spending while squeezing business margins.
PETALING JAYA 鈥 Stakeholders want the government to review the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST), warning that it could worsen living costs and place further strain on small businesses amid fragile economic conditions.
They said concerns have been raised over the SST鈥檚 cascading nature, lack of clarity and potential to erode household spending while squeezing business margins.
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) said the expanded SST, set to take effect on July 1, would disproportionately impact lower and middle-颅income groups.
Fomca chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah said B40 and M40 households, which already spend a large share of their income on essentials, would feel the brunt of a 5% tax on items like cooking oil, fruit and cereal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about paying more. It鈥檚 about trade-offs families will have to make such as cutting back on nutrition or postponing medical and educational needs,鈥 he said yesterday.
Local Call for clearer SST guidelines ahead of rollout
- Details
Experts warn ambiguity could lead to unintended consequences such as pricing confusion and profiteering
PETALING JAYA: The government is being urged to release a clear, centralised list of taxable and exempted items under the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) to prevent confusion ahead of its implementation on July 1.
Economists warn that without authoritative guidance, businesses could face compliance issues and pricing disputes. They said a government-endorsed reference list is seen as critical to ensure clarity for companies, consumers and enforcement agencies.
A Finance Ministry spokesperson said the expanded SST will include a 5% sales tax on both locally manufactured and imported goods. However, locally grown fruits will be exempt, while imported fruits will be taxed.
鈥淪elected imported food items such as rice, wheat, sugar, salt and meat remain exempt as they are considered basic essentials,鈥 the ministry said, adding that both local and imported palm oil used for cooking will also continue to be exempted.
Still, confusion persists over what exactly is taxable. For example, cooking oil was initially believed to be taxed, but authorities later clarified that palm-based cooking oil, regardless of origin, remains exempt.
Read more: Local Call for clearer SST guidelines ahead of rollout
Here鈥檚 to safer food for all
- Details
TODAY is World Food Safety Day, and its theme 鈥淔ood Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected鈥 encourages everyone 鈥 from home cooks to big food factories 鈥 to stay alert, clean and ready because food safety isn鈥檛 just a government thing. It鈥檚 an everyone, everywhere, every day kind of mission.
The Health Ministry, through its Food Safety and Quality Division, and using laws like the Food Act 1983 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, inspects restaurants, tests food samples and monitors imports.
It also deploys technology in the battle for safe food. This includes the myfoodtag app that lets users scan food products to check for allergens and nutrition info. There is also FOSIM: the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia is a digital system that tracks imported food to make sure nothing risky ends up in our supermarkets.
However, food safety cannot depend on rules alone. It needs structure, and that鈥檚 where standards come in. Think of standards like a recipe for doing things the right way.
One global favourite is ISO 22000, which helps food businesses big and small set up food safety management systems.
喈ㄠ喈む瘉 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈氞瘉喈む瘝喈む喈距 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈喈┼喈距畷 喈囙喁佮畷喁嵿畷 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝!
- Details
喈ㄠ喈瘝 喈呧喁嵿喈距疅喈瘝 喈夃疅喁嵿畷喁娻喁嵿喁佮喁 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈氞瘉喈む瘝喈む喈距喈む喈 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈喈┼喈距畷 喈囙喁佮畷喁嵿畷 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝 喈庎 喈喁囙畾喈苦 喈喈┼瘈喈熰瘝喈熰喈赤喁嵿畷喈赤瘝 喈む喈ㄠ喈侧瘓 喈氞畽喁嵿畷喈む瘝喈む喈┼瘝 喈瘖喈む瘉喈氞瘝 喈氞瘑喈喈距喈班瘝 喈氞喈班喁 喈溹瘒喈瘝喈膏瘝 喈喈苦喈瘝 喈曕瘋喈编喈┼喈班瘝.
喈氞瘉喈む瘝喈む喈编瘝喈 喈囙疅喈む瘝喈む喈侧瘝 喈む喈距喈苦畷喁嵿畷喈瘝喈疅喁佮喁 喈夃喈掂瘉, 喈喁堗 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈掂畷喁堗畷喈赤瘓 喈夃疅喁嵿畷喁娻喁嵿喈む瘓 喈ㄠ喈瘝 喈呧喁堗喈班瘉喈瘝 喈む喈苦喁嵿畷喁嵿畷 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝 喈庎 喈呧喈班瘝 喈曕瘉喈编喈瘝喈喈熰瘝喈熰喈班瘝.
喈囙喁嵿喁 喈溹瘋喈┼瘝 7 喈呧喁堗喁嵿喁佮喈 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈瘉 喈む喈┼喁嵿喁 喈瘉喈┼瘝喈┼喈熰瘝喈熰瘉 喈掂瘑喈赤喈喈熰瘝喈 喈呧喈苦畷喁嵿畷喁 喈掄喁嵿喈苦喁 喈呧喈班瘝 喈曕瘉喈编喈瘝喈喈熰瘝喈熰喈班瘝. 喈喁囙畾喈苦 喈氞瘉喈曕喈む喈 喈呧喁堗畾喁嵿畾喈苦喁 喈曕瘈喈脆瘝 喈氞瘑喈喁嵿喈熰瘉喈瘝 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈む 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈瘉 喈喈班喈掂瘉 喈囙喁嵿 喈掂喈掂畷喈距喈瘝 喈曕瘉喈编喈む瘝喈む瘉 喈掂喈脆喈瘝喈瘉喈熰喁 喈囙喁佮喁嵿喁 喈掂喁佮喈む喈 喈呧喈班瘝 喈氞瘉喈熰瘝喈熰喈曕瘝 喈曕喈熰瘝喈熰喈┼喈班瘝.
喈ㄠ喈瘝 喈夃疅喁嵿畷喁娻喁嵿喁佮喁 喈夃喈掂喈┼喈侧瘝 喈掂喈苦喁嵿喁 喈曕瘚喈赤喈编瘉 喈忇喁嵿喈熰畷喁嵿畷喁傕疅喈距喁 喈庎喁嵿喈む瘓 喈夃喁佮喈 喈氞瘑喈瘝喈 喈囙喁嵿 喈喈班喈掂瘉 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈瘉 喈ㄠ疅喈掂疅喈苦畷喁嵿畷喁堗畷喈赤瘓 喈瘒喈编瘝喈曕瘖喈｀瘝喈熰瘉 喈掂喁佮喈む喈 喈呧喈班瘝 喈氞瘉喈熰瘝喈熰喈曕瘝喈曕喈熰瘝喈熰喈┼喈班瘝. 喈囙喈掂瘉 喈氞喁嵿喁, 喈夃喈掂畷喈權瘝喈曕喁 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喁嵿喈苦畷喈赤喈侧瘝 喈氞喈编瘝喈编瘉喈｀瘝喈熰 喈氞喈侧瘓喈曕喈苦喁 喈掂喈编瘝喈曕喁嵿喈熰瘉喈瘝 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈氞瘉喈む瘝喈む喈距喈む 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈喈┼喈 喈庎喁嵿喈む瘓 喈ㄠ喈瘝 喈瘉喈む喈苦喁 喈む瘑喈班喈ㄠ瘝喈む瘉 喈曕瘖喈赤瘝喈 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝. 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈瘉 喈む 喈ㄠ喈侧瘓喈瘓 喈呧疅喈苦喁嵿喈熰瘓喈喈 喈曕瘝 喈曕瘖喈｀瘝喈熰喁.
Read more: 喈ㄠ喈む瘉 喈夃喈掂瘉 喈氞瘉喈む瘝喈む喈距 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈む瘉喈曕喈瘝喈喈┼喈距畷 喈囙喁佮畷喁嵿畷 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝!
Ancaman mikroplastik kian meruncing, Malaysia giat hijaukan negara
- Details
SHAH ALAM- Malaysia tidak ketinggalan dalam usaha mengurangkan kesan buruk plastik terhadap alam sekitar selaras dengan komitmen terhadap kelestarian bumi.
Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Pengguna-pengguna Standards Malaysia, Saral James Maniam berkata, setiap 5 Jun dunia menyambut Hari Alam Sekitar Sedunia dan tahun ini temanya cukup jelas iaitu 'Atasi Pencemaran Plastik', dengan Korea Selatan menjadi tuan rumah sambutan 2025.
"Seluruh dunia digesa bertindak segera menangani krisis pencemaran plastik yang semakin meruncing dan negara kita tidak ketinggalan.
"Dari sekolah hingga ke pusat membeli-belah, peniaga kecil hingga ke syarikat gergasi termasuk pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT), pelbagai inisiatif telah digerakkan demi masa depan lebih hijau dan lestari," katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Jumaat.
Ujar Saral, ancaman mikroplastik pada hari ini hakikatnya semakin meruncing dengan ia mudah ditemui dalam makanan, minuman dan darah manusia.
Read more: Ancaman mikroplastik kian meruncing, Malaysia giat hijaukan negara
喈忇異 喈掂喈苦畷喈距疅喁嵿疅喈苦畷喈赤瘓 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤喈熰喁 喈畷喈苦喁嵿喁嵿喁 喈曕瘖喈赤瘝喈 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝!
- Details
喈氞瘑喈喁嵿畷喁 喈む瘖喈脆喈侧瘝喈ㄠ瘉喈熰瘝喈喁嵿喈苦喁 (喈忇異) 喈掂喈苦畷喈距疅喁嵿疅喈苦畷喈赤瘝 喈囙喁佮喁嵿 喈瘚喈む喈侧瘉喈瘝 喈呧喁 喈忇喁 喈呧喈氞喈權瘝喈曕喁 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤喈熰喁 喈畷喈苦喁嵿喁嵿喁 喈曕瘖喈赤瘝喈赤喈苦喁嵿喁 喈庎 喈喁囙畾喈苦 喈喈┼瘈喈熰瘝喈熰喈赤喁嵿畷喈赤瘝 喈む喈ㄠ喈侧瘓 喈氞畽喁嵿畷喈む瘝喈む喈 喈瘖喈む瘉喈氞瘝 喈氞瘑喈喈距喈班瘝 喈氞瘑喈喈距喈班瘝 喈氞喈班 喈溹瘒喈瘝喈膏瘝 喈曕瘒喈赤瘝喈掂 喈庎喁佮喁嵿喈苦喈距喁. 喈囙喁嵿 喈掂喈苦畷喈距疅喁嵿疅喈苦畷喈赤瘓 喈呧喈氞喈權瘝喈曕喁 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤喈熰喁 喈畷喈苦喁嵿喁嵿喁 喈曕瘖喈｀瘝喈熰喈侧瘝 喈む喈┼瘝 喈忇異 喈む瘖喈脆喈侧瘝喈ㄠ瘉喈熰瘝喈喁 喈曕瘉喈编喈む瘝喈む瘉 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤喈熰瘓喈瘒 喈掂喈脆喈瘝喈瘉喈｀喁嵿喁 喈忇喁嵿喈熰瘉喈瘒 喈庎 喈呧喈班瘝 喈氞瘉喈熰瘝喈熰喈曕瘝 喈曕喈熰瘝喈熰喈┼喈班瘝.
喈囙喁嵿 喈掂喈苦畷喈距疅喁嵿疅喈苦畷喈赤瘓 喈む瘑喈班喈ㄠ瘝喈む瘉 喈曕瘖喈｀瘝喈熰喈侧瘝 喈疅喁嵿疅喁佮喁 喈喁嵿喈苦畷喈赤瘝, 喈ㄠ喈编瘉喈掂喈權瘝喈曕喁 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈喈 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤瘝 喈忇異 喈む瘖喈脆喈侧瘝喈ㄠ瘉喈熰瘝喈喁嵿喁 喈瘖喈编瘉喈瘝喈瘉喈熰喁 喈曕瘓喈喈 喈瘉喈熰喈瘉喈瘝 喈庎 喈掂瘑喈赤喈喈熰瘝喈 喈呧喈苦畷喁嵿畷喁 喈掄喁嵿喈苦喁 喈呧喈班瘝 喈む瘑喈班喈掂喈む瘝喈む喈班瘝.
喈囙喁嵿 喈忇異 喈む瘖喈脆喈侧瘝喈ㄠ瘉喈熰瘝喈喁嵿喈苦喁 喈喈┼瘝喈喈熰瘝喈熰瘓 喈掂喈苦喈熰喁嵿 喈瘉喈编瘓喈喈 喈氞疅喁嵿疅 喈掂喈む喈瘉喈编瘓 喈む瘒喈掂瘓. 喈曕喈班喈瘝 喈瘖喈瘝 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈瘉喈编瘓喈曕瘒喈熰瘉喈曕喁 喈む喈苦喁嵿畷喁嵿畷 喈囙喁 喈喈 喈呧喈氞喈喁 喈庎 喈呧喈班瘝 喈氞瘉喈熰瘝喈熰喈曕瘝 喈曕喈熰瘝喈熰喈┼喈班瘝.
喈囙喁 喈む瘖喈熰喁嵿喈距畷 喈氞疅喁嵿疅 喈掂喈む喈瘉喈编瘓喈曕喁 喈呧喈侧喈曕瘝喈曕喁 喈氞瘑喈瘝喈喁嵿喈熰瘝喈熰喈侧瘝 喈疅喁嵿疅喁佮喁 喈嗋畾喈苦喈苦喈班瘝喈曕喁, 喈喈｀喈班瘝喈曕喁 喈喁嵿喁佮喁 喈む瘖喈脆喈侧瘝 喈瘉喈┼瘓喈掂喁嵿畷喈赤瘝 喈囙喁 喈曕瘉喈编喈む瘝喈む瘉 喈曕喁佮喁嵿喁 喈掂瘑喈赤喈喈 喈瘉喈熰喈瘉喈瘝 喈庎 喈呧喈班瘝 喈氞瘉喈熰瘝喈熰喈曕瘝 喈曕喈熰瘝喈熰喈┼喈班瘝.
Read more: 喈忇異 喈掂喈苦畷喈距疅喁嵿疅喈苦畷喈赤瘓 喈畷喁嵿畷喈赤喈熰喁 喈畷喈苦喁嵿喁嵿喁 喈曕瘖喈赤瘝喈 喈掂瘒喈｀瘝喈熰瘉喈瘝!
Kemajuan AI perlu diimbangi dengan nilai, kawal selia
- Details
KUALA LUMPUR 鈥 Malaysia disaran menyeimbangkan kemajuan teknologi kecerdasan buatan (AI) dengan pendidikan menyeluruh kepada rakyat serta pelaksanaan undang-undang yang jelas dan selamat.
Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna Standards Malaysia, Saral James Maniam berkata, pemahaman terhadap AI perlu diperkasa di semua peringkat agar teknologi itu dimanfaatkan secara bertanggungjawab dan tidak menjejaskan nilai kemanusiaan.
鈥淭ak kenal, maka tak cinta. Pelajar perlu diajar cara menggunakan AI secara bijak.
"Golongan dewasa juga harus didedahkan melalui ceramah atau panduan dalam talian,鈥 katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Jumaat.
Beliau berkata, langkah pendidikan itu harus disusuli dengan penglibatan semua pihak dalam proses penggubalan dasar dan undang-undang berkaitan teknologi tersebut.
鈥淕uru, pelajar, usahawan dan ibu bapa perlu diberi ruang menyuarakan pandangan. Ini penting supaya dasar AI yang dirangka benar-benar selari dengan keperluan rakyat,鈥 katanya.
Read more: Kemajuan AI perlu diimbangi dengan nilai, kawal selia
New rules for online healthcare
- Details
PETALING JAYA: Private online healthcare service providers, such as virtual clinics, are now required by the Health Ministry to comply with a set of guidelines that detail the standards and practices for their operations in the digital space.
Under the guidelines, these providers are prohibited from attending to emergency cases involving injury or acute illnesses.
The Health Ministry said in a circular dated May 5 that these guidelines would be an interim measure and could be a precursor to a future law to regulate the Online Healthcare Services (OHS) space.
鈥淚t is becoming apparent that healthcare policies and regulations created in an analogue age may be inadequate to cater for the often-disruptive healthcare service models in the digital age,鈥 the guidelines said.
鈥淎mbiguities and lacunas in the law create uncertainty for healthcare professionals, platform providers and patients alike.
鈥淚t is crucial for there to be clear standards and requirements to guide those involved in the online healthcare services industry,鈥 the guidelines added.
According to the guidelines that came into effect on May 5, OHS can only attend to non-emergency cases; follow-up management for stable cases; group session counselling services for areas such as psychology, nutrition or rehabilitation; referral or secondary care programme by specialist or consultant; or support services such as the supply of medication, laboratory and imaging services.
Page 1 of 106
