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FOMCA calls for tougher action on electricity theft amid RM4.8 billion lossesELECTRICITY theft in Malaysia must be treated as a major economic and criminal issue, not merely a technical violation, said the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA), following revelations of RM4.8 billion in losses linked to illegal bitcoin mining activities between 2018 and mid-2024.

FOMCA’s chief executive officer, Dr T. Saravanan, called for immediate and decisive action from the government, regulators and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), including the adoption of smart technologies such as real-time monitoring and data analytics to detect unusual electricity usage.

“Enforcement efforts must be intensified, not only targeting the operators of illegal mining farms but also extending legal accountability to landlords, enablers and financiers who profit from or facilitate these activities,” he said in a statement.

Dr Saravanan stressed the need for urgent reform of existing laws to ensure penalties are proportional to the scale of the offence.

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Ahza Adhwa (@adwanas) • Threads, Say moreKUALA LUMPUR: Rang Undang-Undang (RUU) Kredit Pengguna 2025 yang bertujuan melindungi kepentingan pengguna kredit di negara ini mendapat kelulusan Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

RUU itu dibentangkan bagi bacaan kali kedua dan ketiga oleh Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Lim Hui Ying hari ini dan dibahaskan 23 Ahli Parlimen.

Menurut Hui Ying, sebaik sahaja diwartakan, RUU itu akan memperkenalkan pengawalseliaan bersepadu secara berperingkat, mengambil kira tahap kesiapsiagaan industri serta keupayaan Suruhanjaya Kredit Pengguna yang akan ditambah baik secara berfasa.

Katanya, suruhanjaya itu akan melaksanakan tugas pengawalseliaan secara berperingkat, bermula dengan penyedia kredit yang kini tidak berada di bawah seliaan mana-mana pihak berkuasa, sebelum pemusatan sepenuhnya dijangka berlaku menjelang tahun 2031.

"Fasa pertama akan menyaksikan suruhanjaya mengawal selia semua perniagaan kredit dan penyedia perkhidmatan kredit yang tidak dikawal selia ketika ini.

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Pix for representational purposes. - Fomca portalPETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s middle class is being squeezed out of national policymaking, despite bearing the brunt of rising costs and shrinking financial buffers, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).

Fomca chief operating officer Nur Asyikin Aminuddin said while public aid and subsidies are typically directed at the B40 group, the M40 – those earning between RM5,000 and RM10,000 monthly – are increasingly caught in a financial bind. The middle class is battling inflation, rising living costs and fading financial safety nets.

“They’re too ‘rich’ for aid but not rich enough to withstand economic shocks. Their commitments – housing loans, education, insurance and care for ageing parents aren’t factored into current income-based assessments. They’re trapped in survival mode.”

Nur Asyikin said Fomca has received more complaints from M40 households, especially since the Sales and Service Tax (SST) was raised to 8%.

She said it has driven up service costs in logistics, repairs and professional fees – putting further pressure on household budgets.

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social mediaPETALING 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.

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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Julai - Pembelian barangan buatan Malaysia terus memberi impak signifikan kepada pengguna dan ekonomi negara secara keseluruhan.

Menurut Ahli Eksekutif Bahagian Komunikasi Strategik dan Pengurusan Sumber, Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Tamilarasan Nalliah, langkah ini berupaya membuka lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan kepada rakyat tempatan, seterusnya membantu menurunkan kadar pengangguran negara.

“Beli barangan buatan Malaysia ni memberi banyak impak, bukan sahaja dari segi mikro, tetapi makro juga. Contohnya setiap pembelian barang buatan Malaysia kita boleh menjamin setiap ringgit yang kita belanja itu akan kekal dalam negara, seterusnya menjamin rantaian perniagaan yang lebih stabil," katanya kepada pemberita di Angkasapuri Kota Media.

Selain menjana peluang ekonomi, barangan tempatan juga diyakini berkualiti tinggi kerana mematuhi piawaian antarabangsa.

Ke arah itu, kerajaan turut menyokong usaha memartabatkan produk tempatan melalui pelbagai inisiatif termasuk Kempen Beli Barangan Malaysia, penyediaan latihan dan geran pemasaran serta platform Zon Perdagangan Bebas Digital (DFTZ) untuk memasarkan produk ke peringkat global.

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Sugar Should No Longer Be A Controlled Item Under PCAP Act 2011 | Galen Centreபெட்டாலிங் ஜெயா ஜூலை 8: உடல் ஆரோக்கியத்தை கருத்தில் கொண்டு இனிப்பு உட்கொள்வதை பெரும்பாலான பயனீட்டாளர்கள் குறைத்து வரும் வேளையில், சர்க்கரை குறைவான பானம் அதிக விலையில் விற்கப்படுவது குறித்து தேசிய பயனீட்டாளர் புகார் மையம் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.
 
மலேசியாவில் நீரிழிவு நோய், உடல் பருமன் மற்றும் தொற்றில்லாத நோய் அதிகரித்து வருவதால், சர்க்கரை உட்கொள்வதை பயனீட்டாளர்கள் குறைத்து வருவதாக தேசிய பயனீட்டாளர் புகார் மையத்தின் உயர்நிலை நிர்வாகி சாரல் ஜேம்ஸ் கூறினார்.
 
இந்த நிலையில் கோத்தா டாமான்சாராவில் உள்ள பேரங்காடி ஒன்றில், உடல் ஆரோக்கியத்தை தரும் என கூறப்படும் ஒரு செரிமான பானத்தின் விலை பயனீட்டாளர்களுக்கு குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதாக அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.
 
இந்த பானத்தின் வழக்கமான விலை வெ 5.30 தான். ஆனால் இதன் சர்க்கரை குறைவான பானம் வெ 5.70 விற்கப்படுவதாக அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.
ஆனால் பயனீட்டாளர்கள் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிக்காமல் இந்த பானத்தை வாங்கிச் செல்வதாக அவர் சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.
 
சர்க்கரை குறைவான பொருட்களை பயனீட்டாளர்கள் உட்கொள்வதை நாம் வரவேற்கிறோம். ஆனால் இவை ஏன் அதிக விலைக்கு விற்கப்படுகின்றன? என அவர் கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.

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PUTRAJAYA: Among ways to prevent unnecessary price hikes is to strengthen existing mechanisms for price monitoring and enforcement, says a consumer rights activist.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Saravanan Thambirajah said this is one of the most immediate actions the government could take.

“When prices of essential items are being hiked up arbitrarily or without justification, there must be swift investigation and enforcement by the authorities.

“The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s call for consumer associations to serve as its eyes and ears is a good initiative, but it will only be effective if reports from the ground lead to real action,” he said. 

Saravanan added that the government must focus on transparency to prevent the public from becoming victims of inflated prices or being wrongly taxed.

“When consumers know the market price of goods, they are in a better position to make informed choices.

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Transport Ministry Seeks To Ban 'Dummy Buckle'PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups and road safety advocates are calling for an immediate clampdown on the sale of dummy buckles and related accessories, both online and in stores.

This is despite the looming ban on the import of these accessories into Malaysia by the year-end.

Federation of Malaysian Con­sumers Associations chief executive officer Saravanan Thambi­rajah said their continued availability demonstrates a gap in regulatory enforcement.

“Online marketplaces should not become loopholes for banned or dangerous products to reach consumers.

“Similarly, physical retail shops, especially car accessory outlets, need to be monitored, and any attempt to sell existing stock of dummy buckles and related items after the ban must result in firm penalties,” he said, urging for e-commerce platforms to be held accountable for their content.

Checks over several online platforms as at press time yesterday also showed that dummy seat belt buckles are readily available and cost well under RM10.

 

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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.

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Saral (depan, empat dari kiri) bersama peserta dalam sesi konsultasi kebangsaan baru-baru ini.SHAH ALAM – Kerajaan digesa meminda undang-undang bagi memasukkan peruntukan penarikan balik produk secara mandatori dalam Akta Perlindungan Pengguna 1999 dan Akta Perihal Dagangan 2011.

Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna Standards Malaysia, Saral James Maniam berkata, dalam aspek memastikan keselamatan pengguna, negara perlu mencontohi pendekatan proaktif seperti yang dilakukan oleh Kesatuan Eropah (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Jepun dan Singapura.

“Penglibatan pengguna dalam pembangunan dan semakan piawaian seperti Standard Malaysia MS 2626:2016 (MS 2626) perlu dijadikan budaya.

“Pengguna perlu faham hak mereka dan industri perlu bersedia dengan tanggungjawabnya. Jika kita gagal bersedia, kita sedang sedia untuk gagal,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Selasa.

Ujar Saral, MS 2626 digubal oleh Jawatankuasa Teknikal NSC 03/TC2 dengan merujuk kepada dua standard antarabangsa iaitu ISO 10377 (Keselamatan Produk) dan ISO 10393 (Penarikan Balik Produk).

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