Hidden charges, confusion among top BNPL complaints, says consumer group
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PETALING JAYA: Hidden charges, unclear terms and conditions, and difficulties resolving disputes with service providers are among the main complaints received by the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) involving 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) services.
BNPL is often promoted as interest- and hassle-free when payments are made the following month, creating the perception that it is not a form of debt.
Read more: Hidden charges, confusion among top BNPL complaints, says consumer group
Increase in cost of food, essentials a strain: Fomca
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Fomca says rising food and daily costs continue to strain Malaysian households despite stable petrol prices
PETALING JAYA: While petrol prices remain stable, Malaysian households are still grappling with high living costs, with rising prices of food and daily essentials continuing to strain family budgets, according to the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).
โStable fuel prices do help prevent further escalation in costs. Daily expenses such as food, utilities and services play a much larger role in shaping household financial pressures,โ said Fomca CEO Saravanan Thambirajah. He said despite steady petrol prices, many households do not feel a meaningful reduction in overall expenses.
Read more: Increase in cost of food, essentials a strain: Fomca
Maintaining 800-Litre BUDI95 Limit For e-Hailing Helps Stabilise Costs - GEM
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- The governmentโs decision to maintain the monthly ceiling of up to 800 litres under the Budi MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme for e-hailing drivers and gig workers is seen as a timely measure to help stabilise operating costs amid adjustments to the subsidy scheme.
Malaysian E-hailing Coalition (GEM) chief activist Masrizal Mahidin said the move could also stimulate demand for e-hailing services following the temporary adjustment to the BUDI95 quota eligibility beginning next month.
Read more: Maintaining 800-Litre BUDI95 Limit For e-Hailing Helps Stabilise Costs - GEM
Temporary Adjustment Of Fuel Subsidiy Balances People's Welfare And National Fiscal Discipline - Analysts
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- The government's strategic move to temporarily adjust the fuel subsidy mechanism is seen as an effort to find a balance between the welfare of the people and the country's fiscal discipline in facing the impacts of geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies senior lecturer Mujibu Abd Muis said that the temporary adjustment of the Budi MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme, effective April 1, is considered an important step towards targeted subsidies to prevent leakage and ensure optimal use of fiscal resources.
Borrowers deciding the best deals before purchase
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PETALING JAYA: The Hire Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026 could have been helpful if it applies to existing borrowers, especially with the rising cost of living.
For creative writer Nuratikah Muhammad, she said her loan will not be covered under the new guidelines since it was taken a few years ago.
โIt would have been great if we were covered as well.
Read more: Borrowers deciding the best deals before purchase
Call for crackdown on fuel subsidy abuse by foreigners
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PETALING JAYA: As fuel subsidy abuse continues to spark public outrage, holding foreign vehicle owners accountable for purchasing subsidised Budi95 petrol is a crucial step towards fairer enforcement, say consumer groups.
Previously, responsibility rested entirely on petrol station operators, who often struggled to prevent abuse.
Pertubuhan Mesra Pengguna Malaysia deputy president Azlin Othman said petrol station operators often faced constraints in controlling the actions of those taking advantage of the system.
He cautioned that the flexibility now given to operators must not become an excuse for weak compliance.
โMonitoring must continue to be strengthened,โ he added.
Read more: Call for crackdown on fuel subsidy abuse by foreigners
'BNM perlu larang bank promosi insurans dalam premis, elak perdaya pelanggan' - CAP
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GEORGETOWN: Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) menggesa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) melarang institusi kewangan daripada mempromosikan sebarang bentuk insurans, terutama berkaitan pelaburan di dalam premis mereka.
Presidennya, Mohideen Abdul Kader berkata, CAP menerima aduan ada pegawai bank mendekati pelanggan dalam premis bank bagi mempromosikan insurans berkaitan pelaburan sebagai 'pilihan pelaburan yang lebih baik dengan pulangan lebih tinggi berbanding simpanan atau deposit tetap'.
Katanya, dalam kebanyakan kes, pelanggan tidak dimaklumkan mereka sedang ditawarkan insurans berkaitan pelaburan yang memerlukan pembayaran premium dalam tempoh beberapa tahun.
"Dalam satu kes, seorang wanita mendakwa dia sudah memberitahu pegawai bank bahawa dia enggan membeli sebarang insurans kerana hampir bersara dan mempunyai simpanan terhad.
"Pegawai bank itu meyakinkannya bahawa ia hanyalah 'Pelan Simpanan' yang dikunci selama lima tahun dan kerana menyangka ia produk deposit tetap yang baharu, wanita itu bersetuju sebelum diberi satu timbunan dokumen dengan cetakan halus bagi ditandatangani.
Read more: 'BNM perlu larang bank promosi insurans dalam premis, elak perdaya pelanggan' - CAP
'Beli barang tak sama macam dulu'
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JOHOR BAHRU: Kerajaan diminta menaikkan bantuan tambahan kepada ibu dan bapa tunggal yang mempunyai anak tanggungan dalam Belanjawan 2024.
Sebelum ini bantuan tambahan RM500 kepada ibu tunggal diteruskan dan mereka juga layak menerima Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) maksimum RM3,000 dalam Belanjawan 2023 berbanding RM2,500 menerusi Belanjawan 2022.
Ibu tunggal kepada tiga cahaya mata, Cecelia Das, 41, berkata, kerajaan perlu menimbang untuk menambah jumlah bantuan sedia ada kerana kos sara hidup ketika ini tinggi disebabkan kenaikan harga barang.
Dia yang berasal dari Apin-apin, Keningau, Sabah dan kini menetap di Bandar Bistari Perdana, Pasir Gudang dekat sini berkata, perbelanjaan barang dapur ketika ini tidak sama seperti tahun lalu.
โSemua perbelanjaan naik mendadak. Peningkatan kos sara hidup sangat ketara di sini. Gaji saya sebagai pekerja kilang di Tampoi memang tidak cukup.
DuitNow QR payment transaction fee will not burden low-income group
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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday (Sept 29) that the imposition of a transaction fee for payments made via DuitNow QR and transactions conducted with credit cards will not burden the low-income group in the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he had met Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Shaik Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour yesterday to get clarification on the matter.
"I discussed with the BNM Governor yesterday. According to him, it (transaction fee) will not be imposed on the lower group.
"What is important is that it will not burden the low-income group,โ he told reporters after visiting the โPostnormal Timesโ exhibition at the KL Jazz and Arts Centre here.
Yesterday, Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) confirmed that a transaction fee will be imposed on vendors for payments received through the DuitNow QR platform and transactions conducted with credit cards effective Nov 1, 2023.
However, the 50 sen fee will be charged for transactions exceeding RM5,000 involving peer-to-peer fund transfers from one personal QR to another personal QR, not payments to merchants.
Asked about MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siongโs suggestion that the transaction fee be abolished, Anwar said this matter should be handled by BNM.
Consumers continue to fight for their rights
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PETALING JAYA: Umrah packages, home improvement, car workshop services, travel agencies and short-term rentals are the top five cases in the services category received by the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia (TTPM) this year.
Of the 3,484 filings from January to May 2023, 355 were for umrah packages, 343 for home improvement, 175 for car workshops, 145 for travel agencies and 137 for short-term rentals.
In the goods category, the top five filings during the same period were for electrical goods (192), cars (185), telephones (110), furniture (100) and clothes (67).Meanwhile, 7,109 filings were done in 2022, 4,845 in 2021, 5,761 in 2020 and 5,198 in 2019.
For 2022 and 2021, home improvement topped the list of cases filed in the services category โ 757 filings last year and 420 the year before.
Travel agencies topped the list of cases filed in the services category in 2020 and 2019, at 584 and 383 respectively. In the goods category, claims for electrical goods topped the list for four years, with a total of 1,316 cases from 2020 to 2023.
TTPM chairman Hamidun Abdul Fatah advised consumers to make smart choices and look for the right information before purchasing goods or services.
โIf you find that your rights as a consumer have been denied, donโt be quiet and just accept it as fate. The tribunal is here and you can come to the tribunal if the case is within our power scope,โ he said.
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