CONSUMER DIGEST

Govt mulls ‘AI generated’ label under Online Safety Act, says Fahmi

2025-07-14T22:11:31+00:00

PETALING JAYA: All artificial intelligence-generated content may have to be labelled as “AI generated”, says communications minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi said the government was considering the move under the Online Safety Act 2024, which is expected to come into force by the end of this year, Bernama reported.

He said the move was crucial to address the misuse of AI, especially on social media platforms for purposes such as scams, defamation, and identity impersonation.

“We may consider this requirement, for example, under the Online Safety Act, which is expected to come into effect by the end of this year.

“We also believe platforms must be proactive in labelling AI-generated content as such,” he said at a press conference after attending an event in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Thai exporters urged to comply with Malaysia’s new food safety rules

2025-07-08T18:59:04+00:00

PETALING JAYA: Thailand’s foreign trade department has urged its exporters to prepare for Malaysia’s new food safety rules to minimise the risk of having their goods rejected at Malaysia’s borders.

In a report in Thai newspaper The Nation, a Thai official stated that Malaysia’s new food safety rules could block Thai food exports if factories fail to meet certification standards, a move that could potentially threaten Thai food exports worth billions of baht.

Arada Fuangthong, director-general of the foreign trade department, said Malaysia has added a new category, IIB, to the Food Regulations 1985 to raise food safety standards for imports to match those of domestic products.

Under the new rules, factories exporting food to Malaysia must have food safety certification from Malaysia’s food safety and quality programme under the health ministry.

The certification system must cover Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), said Arada.

In addition, Malaysia may inspect food production sites in Thailand in collaboration with relevant authorities.

Brace for price hikes across the board, consumers told

2025-07-01T18:53:27+00:00

PETALING JAYA: Consumers should brace themselves for a gradual increase in prices of goods following the implementation of the new electricity tariffs effective July 1, say business groups.

This is because manufacturers and those in the affected sectors may not be able to absorb higher costs and would likely pass on to consumers.

SME Association of Malaysia president Chin Chee Seong said it is too early to gauge the overall increase in electricity bills for businesses.

“It is difficult to say how much their electricity bills will increase at the moment.

“This is because the new tariffs are based on the amount of electricity used and on different rates of consumption.

“Talk among some SMEs is that there is likely to be at least a 20% increase in electricity bills,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Chin said the association will gather feedback from its members to determine how much more they have to pay for their electricity.

Experts call for tax on vacant and unsold homes

2025-06-30T19:18:36+00:00

PETALING JAYA: Housing experts have called for a vacancy tax to help tackle the rise of vacant and unsold homes and lower property prices by discouraging speculation.

They said many “affordable” housing units are being held empty by owners or investors, making it harder for real buyers to find homes.

Research associate K Theebalakshmi said a vacancy tax can prevent speculation and push developers to build homes that meet actual needs, reducing oversupply and supporting more balanced housing development.

Theebalakshmi, who is with Khazanah Research Institute, said housing prices in Malaysia rose by 5.8% a year between 2010 and 2022, well above the healthy growth range of 3% to 4%.

“While some fear falling home prices or rents, this kind of market correction (vacancy tax) may be just what we need to make housing more fair and stable,” she told FMT.

“In highly urbanised states where vacancy and overhang rates are high, a vacancy tax would help stop people from holding on to homes for quick profit.”

Figures from the statistics department show that nearly 20% of homes in Selangor and Penang were vacant in 2020.

More than 53,000 units were unoccupied in Penang, often waiting to be sold or rented out. In Selangor, 343,562 homes were reported vacant, with about 197,065 of them either newly completed or pending occupancy.

MRCA urges government to reconsider 8pct SST on retail rents

2025-06-30T19:02:43+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the country's largest retail groups, whose members employ over 400,000 people, has called on the government to consider a further review of the eight per cent Sales and Service Tax (SST) on commercial rentals.

This comes after the Finance Ministry announced an increase in the Service Tax registration threshold for commercial rentals from RM500,000 to RM1 million.

Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) vice-president Dr Afendi Dahlan said while they welcomed the revision, as it would help many micro, small and medium enterprises that fall within this range, there were concerns for other players.

He said businesses already faced higher overheads due to the rise in the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700, the rationalisation of diesel subsidies, higher electricity tariffs, e-invoicing and Employees Provident Fund contributions for foreign workers, among others.

Afendi said rental was among the key costs for any retailer, accounting for up to 20 per cent of total costs.

New rules for online healthcare

2025-05-28T23:32:06+00:00

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.

“It 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,” the guidelines said.

“Ambiguities and lacunas in the law create uncertainty for healthcare professionals, platform providers and patients alike.

“It is crucial for there to be clear standards and requirements to guide those involved in the online healthcare services industry,” 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.

Public transport group demands audit, fines over Smart Selangor bus route suspension

2025-05-28T23:08:37+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Public Transport Association (4PAM) has demanded a full audit of Smart Selangor following the suspension of five bus routes in Subang Jaya, after the operator failed to submit permit applications on time and comply with licensing requirements.

Its president, Ajit Johl, described the failure to submit permit applications promptly as a lackadaisical attitude by Smart Selangor, showing a disregard for passenger safety and welfare.

He also called for heavy fines from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) as a deterrent and to remind bus operators, both under Smart Selangor and more broadly, of the importance of adhering to renewal deadlines.

"The very fact of your licence is to do this business, and that (your operator) cannot renew it, leads one to think that we should ask for a full audit of Smart Selangor," he said.

Many Malaysian graduates are earning just enough to survive, says report

2025-05-21T20:06:02+00:00

PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysian graduates are earning just enough to survive, with little to spare for saving or upward mobility, according to a new report by a labour market research group.

Future Studies Berhad said the study also dispelled the notion that tertiary education guaranteed a meaningful wage premium.

The report, titled “The ‘Gaji Cukup Makan’ Economy: When Higher Education Becomes an Economic Risk”, also finds the idea that tertiary education guarantees a better life is being increasingly challenged.

Future Studies said based on its report, the high employability rates – often exceeding over 80% – were misleading as it included all forms of employment, regardless of skill match or wage level.

“In reality, over 70% of employed graduates are in semi- and low-skilled roles, and more than 65% of degree holders earn below RM3,000 monthly,” the report read.

It said its findings highlighted a serious mismatch between qualifications and job roles, and a clear erosion in the returns on higher education investment.

“The mismatch in Malaysia leads to deeper economic vulnerability, limiting upward mobility and reducing the incentive to pursue higher education, particularly among lower-income groups.”

Future Studies said the decision to pursue higher education becomes increasingly risky, especially for low- and middle-income households who are burdened by rising education costs but see limited wage rewards.

Car dealer ordered to refund money for selling a lemon

2025-05-21T20:02:56+00:00

A MANAGER sought help from Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal after he was stuck with a highly problematic vehicle.

Ramizi Bajuri, 41, was keen on a Japanese four-door sedan at a dealership in Jalan Parit Bilal, Batu Pahat, Johor.

He contacted a salesman on May 25 last year about the vehicle.

However, the salesman informed him that the car had been sold and proposed another car of the same model with a different registration plate.

“I asked the salesman about the condition of the car and he assured me that it was good,” said Ramizi.

He paid a RM3,000 deposit and submitted documents to secure a loan from the company for the car priced at RM36,313.

Ramizi also traded in his Japanese compact sedan for RM6,000.

In total, he paid RM19,225 and secured RM17,088 in a credit loan for 36 months, with a monthly payment of RM475.

Bayaran ubat di klinik swasta lebih mahal hingga 75 peratus

2025-05-04T23:59:20+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Klinik swasta mengenakan bayaran ubat biasa dan ubat jangka panjang lebih mahal antara antara 23 peratus hingga 75 peratus berbanding farmasi komuniti.

Berdasarkan tinjauan BH, sebagai contoh klinik swasta menjual ubat paracetamol 500 miligram (mg) pada harga sekitar RM1 sebiji, tetapi ada farmasi yang menawarkan harga serendah 25 sen sebiji.

Pil salbutamol sulphate yang biasa digunakan berkaitan batuk akibat asma pula harganya sekitar RM1 sebiji di klinik swasta namun boleh dibeli di farmasi antara 25 sen hingga 45 sen sebiji.

Begitu juga ubat terkawal bagi kolesterol, atorvastatin 20mg sekotak mengandungi 30 biji yang dijual sekitar RM160 di klinik manakala RM122 di farmasi.

Satu jenama pil antiarlegik 4mg dijual di klinik pada harga RM1 sebiji tetapi diperoleh di farmasi pada harga 30 sen sebiji.

Menurut Presiden Pertubuhan Doktor-Doktor Islam Malaysia (PERDIM), Dr Boi Saidi B Abd Razak, perbezaan ketara harga ubat di kedua-dua premis itu berpunca daripada kaedah pembelian yang mana farmasi lazimnya membeli stok ubat dalam kuantiti besar sekali gus mampu mendapatkan harga lebih rendah daripada pembekal.