KUALA LUMPUR - Persekutuan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) mendedahkan semakin banyak aduan diterima berhubung taktik halus yang digunakan peniaga untuk memanipulasi pengguna melalui iklan mengelirukan.

Ketua Pegawai Operasi FOMCA, Nur Asyikin Aminuddin berkata, rakan strategiknya, Pusat Khidmat Aduan Pengguna Nasional (NCCC) juga kerap menerima aduan yang berkaitan dengan amalan perniagaan yang tidak beretika dan segalanya bermula dari sebuah iklan yang mengelirukan.

Menurutnya, iklan sepatutnya digunakan sebagai alat makluman mengenai produk atau perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan, tetapi kini ia dijadikan sebagai perangkap halus untuk memanipulasi pengguna.

"Situasi ini amat membimbangkan kerana ia melibatkan perniagaan daripada pelbagai sektor termasuk pasar raya, kedai serbaneka, e-dagang, telekomunikasi, dan termasuk perkhidmatan kesejahteraan dan kecantikan," katanya dalam kenyataan.

Beliau berkata, sektor kesejahteraan dan kecantikan menunjukkan peningkatan ketara apabila hampir setiap minggu sekurang-kurangnya dua aduan berkaitan iklan mengelirukan diterima.

Terdapat premis yang beroperasi di luar bidang kuasa sama ada Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (�㽶��Ƶ) atau Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN), sekali gus membuka ruang eksploitasi.

Persatuan pengguna dan pakar komputer menyifatkan, keselamatan asas pengguna khidmat telekomunikasi daripada gangguan panggilan dan pesanan sepatutnya ditanggung setiap telco dan bukannya dijadikan sumber keuntungan baharu syarikat berkenaan.

Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM) dalam laporan pada April 2024, mendedahkan 99.3 peratus daripada kira-kira 34 juta rakyat negara ini mempunyai akses kepada telefon bimbit. Ia merangkumi perkhidmatan secara prabayar atau pasca bayar menerusi pelbagai pakej ditawarkan oleh telco tempatan.

Pensyarah Fakulti Sains Komputer dan Matematik Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Prof Madya Dr Mohamad Yusof Darus, berkata keselamatan digital tidak seharusnya dijadikan produk berbayar, sebaliknya ia hak asas setiap pelanggan yang perlu dijamin oleh semua telco.

"Isunya bukan sekadar pada nilai caj terbabit tetapi pada prinsip adakah keselamatan pengguna suatu pilihan tambahan atau tanggungjawab asas penyedia perkhidmatan.

"Apabila keselamatan dijadikan produk premium, ia seolah-olah menukar perlindungan asas kepada bentuk keuntungan, sedangkan kepercayaan terhadap jaringan komunikasi bergantung kepada jaminan keselamatan yang menyeluruh," katanya kepada BH, semalam.

PETALING JAYA

Its CEO Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said premiums for policyholders over the age of 60 have surged two to threefold in the past two years, in some cases rising as much as 300%.

“Many retirees who have maintained their policies for decades are now forced to surrender them. Some even sacrifice their own coverage so their children could remain insured.”

He said the trend is deeply worrying, as seniors feel they are being “punished simply for growing older”.

He added that Fomca has seen a growing number of complaints about delayed or rejected claims, excessive red tape and insurers overriding the recommendations of doctors.

“When medical decisions are dictated by administrators instead of doctors, the system has failed.

“Some seniors even find it cheaper and less stressful to pay out-of-pocket than to use their insurance.”

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In its latest report, “Should Malaysia expand its social pension? Global evidence, design issues and options”, the international financial institution said the current withdrawal age of 55 and social pension eligibility at 60 are no longer in step with Malaysia’s demographic realities.

It argued that gradually increasing both thresholds would help sustain the country’s social protection system while allowing retirees to receive larger average benefits later in life.

The World Bank said the proposed shift would better reflect Malaysia’s demographic profile, with citizens now living longer and healthier than four decades ago, when the current EPF framework was first designed.

Citing data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s (DOSM) 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), the Bank found that poverty risk rises sharply with age — 24% among households headed by those aged 60 and above, 42% for those 65 and above, and 49% for those 70 and above.

It added that raising the withdrawal and pension eligibility ages would be justified if paired with broader coverage for Malaysians without retirement savings or fixed pensions, to balance welfare needs with fiscal responsibility.

PETALING JAYA

Its CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said feedback from motorists after a month have been largely positive.

“The overall response to Budi95 has been encouraging. Consumers are adjusting to the new quota system and the MyKad-based verification process is functioning smoothly in most cases.”

Introduced to replace blanket fuel subsidies, Budi95 ensures that assistance reaches those who truly need it while curbing smuggling and misuse.

Most Malaysians now display greater awareness of their fuel usage. Many are planning travel more efficiently, and the quota has proven sufficient for personal and family needs for the vast majority.

Saravanan said Fomca strongly recommends retaining the 300-litre limit, which balances fairness, predictability and fiscal responsibility.

"Centralising the data and delivery system can enhance efficiency, coordination, and accountability, ensuring that public assistance reaches those who truly need it," said secretary-general Dr Saravanan Thambirajah when reached by the New Straits Times. 

Saravanan cautioned, however, that the system must be underpinned by strong data protection and privacy safeguards to prevent misuse or leaks of personal information.

"Consumers' personal and financial information must be kept secure at all times," he said, adding that while digital integration could bring convenience, it must not compromise trust or fairness.

Saravanan said the initiative could ease the burden faced by vulnerable groups who currently deal with excessive bureaucracy and complicated documentation when applying for aid, reducing administrative hurdles and emotional strain. 

He added that integrating data from federal, state, and zakat institutions could also prevent overlapping assistance and ensure fairer resource distribution.

PETALING JAYA: Free health screenings and subsidised medical insurance for the B40 should be widened to include middle-income families who are also feeling the pinch from rising medical inflation, say stakeholders.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah said many M40 households now face similar financial pressures as the B40, including higher medical costs, stagnant wages, and limited access to affordable private healthcare.

“They are the ‘missing middle’ who fall through the cracks of social protection.

“By widening coverage through a shared-subsidy or co-payment model, the government can ensure more Malaysians are protected against unexpected medical expenses while keeping the schemes financially sustainable,” he said.

He said this in response to Aon’s 2026 Global Medical Trend Rates Report which projects Malaysia’s medical inflation to hit 16% in 2026, well above the Asia-Pacific average of 11.3%.

Current health programmes for the B40 include Peka B40, which offers free check-ups, medical device aid, and early detection incentives for Malaysians aged 40 and above.