Govt mulls ‘AI generated’ label under Online Safety Act, says Fahmi
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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.
Read more: Govt mulls ‘AI generated’ label under Online Safety Act, says Fahmi
Beli barangan Malaysia, buka lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan
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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.
சர்க்கரை குறைவான பானத்திற்கு விலை அதிகமா?
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பெட்டாலிங் 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.‘Swift action key to price stability’
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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.
Crackdown urged on hazardous car gadgets
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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.
Thai exporters urged to comply with Malaysia’s new food safety rules
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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.
Read more: Thai exporters urged to comply with Malaysia’s new food safety rules
Kerajaan digesa pinda undang-undang wajibkan penarikan balik produk tidak selamat
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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).
Read more: Kerajaan digesa pinda undang-undang wajibkan penarikan balik produk tidak selamat
Brace for price hikes across the board, consumers told
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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.
Read more: Brace for price hikes across the board, consumers told
Fomca: Financial access at risk
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PETALING JAYA: Ahead of the implementation of service tax on financial services on July 1, groups have voiced concerns, saying that this is likely to drive up costs for businesses and the regular people.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) vice-president Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham said ordinary Malaysians would be the most impacted by the 8% service tax on fee-based financial services.
Indrani said the small charges may seem as a trivial amount but it is a huge sum when multiplied by the millions of transactions.
“When Malaysian banks are riding on massive profits and control trillions in assets, why should struggling consumers be asked to chip in more.
“This is taxing basic financial access, not luxury,” said Indrani.
Indrani called on Bank Negara Malaysia and the Finance Ministry to immediately review this new ruling.
“The principle of consumer fairness must be upheld,” said Indrani, adding that banks should absorb part of this tax, especially on low value and high-volume services.
Indrani also said consumer groups should be given the space to scrutinise every fee schedule so that banks should be held accountable and thereby prevent opportunistic fee hikes disguised as tax adjustments.
Experts call for tax on vacant and unsold homes
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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.
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