Rogue sellers prey on people’s reliance on e-shopping
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Friday, 09 Jul 2021
PETALING JAYA: As more Malaysians rely on e-commerce websites to purchase items during the movement control order, the number of complaints on such purchases has also risen.
When the MCO was first imposed in March last year, many complaints on related products like face masks and sanitisers were lodged, according to National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) senior manager Baskaran Sithamparam.
“Many consumers relied on purchasing their daily needs from e-commerce sites.
“Rogue sellers (scammers) took advantage of the situation and started offering their products on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.
“Many buyers were scammed and until today, we still receive complaints from consumers scammed by these sellers on social media,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The NCCC comes under the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca).
Baskaran said for legitimate e-commerce platforms, the type of complaints received mostly touched on their refund and return policy which were said to be tedious and time-consuming.
“Besides that, the vendors were also defended by the (online) selling platforms when consumers receive substandard products.
“There were also complaints on misleading information, defective products and products that were not as advertised,” he added.
However, he noted that recently, some issues regarding refunds and return policies from legitimate e-commerce platforms have improved slightly.
“Some consumers also face issues pertaining to e-wallet withdrawals,” he said, adding that consumers should be allowed to withdraw their own cash within a short time period.
On sellers on social media platforms, Baskaran said many scammers posed as sellers.
Read more: Rogue sellers prey on people’s reliance on e-shopping
LETTER | Destroying the financial future of the poor- FOMCA
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LETTER | The EPF estimates that the minimum retirement savings needed per worker after retirement is RM240,000 that is based on the calculation of RM1,000 per month for 20 years. Before Covid-19, 67 percent of those registered with EPF did not even have that minimum. Further, again pre-Covid, EPF reported that 50 percent of contributors above the age of 54 have savings of below RM50,000. Thus even before the pandemic, Malaysians were not saving enough for retirement mainly due to low incomes.
During the pandemic, through the i-Letsari, i-Sinar and i- Chitra schemes, EPF contributors were allowed to withdraw their retirement savings to face the current economic challenges for themselves and for their family’s urgent needs. Most certainly it would be the poor and desperate who would seek to withdraw their future retirement savings for current needs.
Recently, the EPF CEO stated that 6.3 million or 42 percent of the EPF's total membership have less than RM10,000 in their Account 1, which is meant for retirement savings while 9.3 million people have less than RM 10,000 in Account 2, which could be used for such purposes as purchasing a house, medical bills or children’s education.
The savings in Account 1 is for retirement while the savings in Account 2 is for major financial needs such as for purchasing their first home or their children’s education or emergency needs such as their unexpected medical expenses.
Based on the withdrawals for the three schemes, i-Lestari, i-Sinar and i-Citra, it is highly probable that for many of the contributors, after their withdrawal from the various schemes, the savings remaining is almost gone. They would have nothing left for the needs of their families, such as education and housing needs or have enough for their retirement. Due to their urgent current emergency needs, their future critical needs have had to be abandoned.
Is this the best way for the government to help those in need?
The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) strongly believes that adequate financial support should have been given directly to those in need. Forcing people to use their own future emergency and retirement savings to face the current crises is grossly unfair for the future wellbeing of the rakyat. The most badly affected would certainly be the poor and the vulnerable.
If workers and consumers are forced to use their own savings to rescue themselves from the current crises, it clearly indicates how grossly inadequate the current social protection programmes are. And this does not even include the hawkers and contract workers outside the EPF system who have completely no social protection.
The current approach of using EPF savings for current emergency needs will definitely cause severe suffering as workers face a spike in healthcare costs and very low savings in their retirement years.
Read more: LETTER | Destroying the financial future of the poor- FOMCA
Be wary of shopping via social media platforms - FOMCA
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FOMCA has been receiving numerous complaints from people who have been cheated when shopping via social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram and others. Buying via social media platforms is unadvisable.
The government is encouraging Malaysians to venture into online businesses as the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many people due to job loss, while some have been forced to take no-pay leave.
Although there are many sincere sellers who are selling their products such as food, clothes, art and craft, etc, to make ends meet, nevertheless, there are many who are using online platforms to cheat guileless consumers.
The largest number of reports were on non-delivery of goods purchased. Most of the complaints were regarding sellers not delivering the promised goods, sellers were missing, ghosting, etc.
Most of the transactions ranged from RM30 to RM9,000. Once payments were made, the scammers disappeared without a trace. Even the websites and phone numbers were no longer available.
Besides being victims of online scams, many consumers also claimed to be given the runaround and when it came to product delivery, with some products taking more than a month to arrive.
While many online sellers are legitimate, social media scammers use the internet to rip off unsuspecting shoppers. They will often ask consumers to wire transfer money upfront.
As more Malaysians turn to the internet to purchase goods and services, there is a pressing need for an improved legal framework to protect rights of consumers.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Communication and Multimedia Commission should regulate online sellers who use social media to sell their products and services.
Many of them are not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. Consumers are urged not to trust any social media platform to do any transaction.
Read more: Be wary of shopping via social media platforms - FOMCA
Rosak RM8,000, tuntut sampai RM30,000
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30 Jun 2021
SHAH ALAM - Sebahagian penilai atau adjuster yang terlibat dalam sindiket penipuan tuntutan insurans berperanan membuat pengiraan tidak telus terhadap kenderaan yang terlibat dalam kemalangan jalan raya.
Melalui cara menaikkan tuntutan dengan melakukan penipuan atau tuntutan palsu, pembayaran balik kerugian menjadi berlipat kali ganda yang perlu dibayar syarikat insurans.
Hanya meletak status 'total lost' atau musnah sepenuhnya pada kenderaan yang terlibat dengan kemalangan, pihak penilai sudah boleh tersenyum ceria.
Apa tidaknya, mereka boleh mendapat keuntungan besar kerana tidak perlu menukar ganti kerosakan malah bahagian kenderaan yang masih elok boleh dijual dengan mudah.
Kisah benar ini dikongsi sendiri oleh seorang ejen insurans dikenali, Kamil yang mengetahui di sebalik ketirisan tuntutan insurans kemalangan yang berlaku di negara ini.
Katanya, kelebihan yang ada pada penilai insurans kemalangan kerana golongan ini boleh membuat runding harga dan mempunyai ramai kenalan dalam kalangan pemain industri.
“Sebagai contoh, jika berlaku satu-satu kemalangan, nilai harga kerosakan yang perlu dibaiki sebanyak RM8,000 tetapi mereka boleh menaikkan nilai kerosakan sehingga RM30,000,” katanya.
KPKT nafi tawar pembiayaan peribadi
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Julai 1, 2021 @ 1:31pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) menafikan ada menawarkan pembiayaan peribadi 'Lestari Pinjaman Peribadi KPKT' kepada orang awam seperti yang tular di media sosial.
KPKT dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, semakan dibuat pihaknya mendapati laman media sosial terbabit diwujudkan oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab dan menyalahgunakan logo kementerian itu serta logo syarikat Kredit Komuniti berlesen yang didaftar di bawah Akta Pemberi Pinjaman Wang 1951 (Akta 400).
"KPKT menafikan pembabitan dan tawaran iklan terhadap pembiayaan peribadi 'Lestari Pinjaman Peribadi KPKT' kepada orang awam.
"KPKT memandang serius terhadap mana-mana pihak atau syarikat pemberi pinjaman wang berlesen atau tidak berlesen yang menyalahgunakan logo KPKT, logo Kredit Komuniti dan lesen pemberi pinjam wang untuk tujuan penipuan," menurut kenyataan itu.
Menurut kenyataan itu lagi, kementerian akan melakukan siasatan serta menyerahkan perkara terbabit kepada Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial (JSJK) Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) untuk tindakan lanjut.
Selain itu, aduan turut dibuat kepada Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM).
"Orang awam dinasihatkan untuk lebih berhati-hati dalam menerima sebarang tawaran pinjaman yang diiklankan.
"Sekiranya terdapat sebarang keraguan berhubung iklan yang dipaparkan, orang awam dinasihatkan untuk terus menghubungi Bahagian Kawalan Kredit Komuniti (BKKK), KPKT ditalian 03-8891 4690/4668/4658/4708.
Bank Negara digesa turun padang pantau syarikat insurans: Fomca
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01 Julai 2021
SHAH ALAM - Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) menggesa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) turun padang serta memantau syarikat insurans dan bengkel kenderaan bagi membanteras rasuah dalam industri insurans di Malaysia.
Presiden Fomca, Profesor Datuk Dr N Marimuthu berkata, langkah itu perlu dilakukan bagi memastikan industri berkenaan mematuhi undang-undang serta terma perkhidmatan mereka.
“BNM sebagai agensi yang memantau industri insurans harus turun padang dan memantau industri insurans supaya mereka akur serta mengikut peraturan-peraturan yang terkandung dalam terma dan syarat.
“Jika BNM menerima aduan daripada pengguna, mereka juga harus siasat secara mendalam supaya gejala rasuah dalam industri insurans kenderaan dapat dibanteras,” katanya ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian pada Rabu.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai tindakan yang wajar diambil BNM bagi membanteras rasuah dalam industri insurans ketika ini.
Mengulas lanjut, Marimuthu berkata, BNM yang berfungsi sebagai pemantau bagi pihak kerajaan perlu mengambil tindakan tegas jika didapati wujud penyelewengan dalam industri tersebut.
Selain itu, katanya, BNM juga perlu merancang strategi yang sesuai untuk memantau bagi menjamin gejala rasuah dalam industri itu dapat ditangani sebaiknya.“Tindakan ini penting supaya hak pengguna lebih terjamin serta tidak akan mengambil masa lama untuk memproses tuntutan dan sebagainya,” katanya.
Sementara itu, beliau mencadangkan supaya syarikat insurans dikehendaki menetapkan tempoh tertentu bagi memberi penerangan kepada pelanggan tentang insurans yang mereka ambil.
Read more: Bank Negara digesa turun padang pantau syarikat insurans: Fomca
PEMULIH bantu kurang beban rakyat, peniaga - FOMCA
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June 28, 2021 @ 8:52pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Kawalan harga minyak masak dan pemberian diskaun bil elektrik antara bantuan dalam pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (PEMULIH) yang diumumkan hari ini, banyak membantu mengurangkan bebanan rakyat serta peniaga yang sedang bergelut dengan situasi tidak menentu pandemik COVID-19.
Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, berkata peruntukan dan bantuan yang diumukan itu dialu-alukan kerana ia mengurangkan beban pengguna secara keseluruhannya.
Beliau berkata, sebagai contoh, kawalan harga minyak masak bukan sahaja boleh mengatasi kenaikan harga barang itu malah turut boleh mempengaruhi perilaku rakyat.
"Kita lihat langkah kerajaan adalah untuk stabilkan harga minyak masak. Ia adalah keprihatinan kerajaan supaya harga tidak lebih tinggi hingga bebankan pengguna.
"Ia juga dilihat membantu mengurangkan kekerapan rakyat untuk keluar rumah untuk membeli barangan keperluan berkenaan ketika pandemik ini.
"Jika beli pek satu kilogram (kg) memang cepat habis dan bagi memudahkan, mereka boleh beli botol besar dan tidak perlu keluar kerap bagi mendapatkan minyak masak," katanya ketika dihubungi BH hari ini.
Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengumumkan kerajaan akan melaksanakan program Harga Kawalan berasaskan nilai ambang minyak sawit mentah untuk menangani isu kenaikan harga minyak masak botol satu hingga lima kilogram (kg).
Melalui program itu, harga minyak masak botol lima kilogram dapat dikawal supaya tidak melebihi RM30 sebotol, selain menyediakan peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM1 bilion dalam memastikan bekalan minyak masak pek polibeg satu kilogram (kg) terjamin.
Perdana Menteri berkata kerajaan akan terus mengekalkan harga runcit bagi petrol RON95, diesel dan gas petroleum cecair (LPG) membabitkan subsidi melebihi RM6 bilion tahun ini.
Pemilik agensi pelancongan tempatan Wan Vacation Sdn Bhd, Syazwan Zanini, berkata diskaun 10 peratus bil elektrik bagi Oktober hingga Disember ini bagi pengendali hotel, taman tema, pusat konvensyen, pusat beli-belah, pejabat syarikat pelancongan tempatan serta agensi pengembaraan dan pelancongan membantu mengurangkan kos kerugian bulanan yang bertambah setiap bulan.
"Ini kerana bil elektrik yang diperolehi tidak tinggi kerana pejabat ditutup berikutan tidak termasuk dalam perkhidmatan perlu sepanjang fasa pertama kawalan pergerakan dalam Pelan Pemulihan Ekonomi," katanya.
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2.9 juta pengguna nikmati diskaun bil elektrik 40 peratus
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Jun 29, 2021 @ 12:38am
Kuala Lumpur: Kementerian Tenaga Dan Sumber Asli (KeTSA) memperincikan pemberian diskaun bil elektrik secara bersasar kepada pengguna domestik dan bukan domestik di Semenanjung dan Sabah yang diumumkan kerajaan dalam Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih).
Menterinya Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah menjelaskan, seramai 2.9 juta pengguna domestik di Semenanjung yang menggunakan elektrik bulanan sebanyak 200 kilowatt jam (kWj) akan menikmati diskaun bil elektrik sebanyak 40 peratus.
Katanya, bagi pengguna domestik yang menggunakan elektrik bulanan antara 201 hingga 300kWj pula akan mendapat diskaun sebanyak 15 peratus, penggunaan elektrik di antara 301 hingga 600kWj (diskaun 10 peratus) dan penggunaan elektrik di antara 601 hingga 900kWj (lima peratus).
"Diskaun ini akan diberikan bagi bil elektrik bulan Julai, Ogos dan September ini," katanya dalam kenyataan.
Diskaun itu antara inisiatif bantuan menerusi pakej Pemulih yang bernilai RM150 billion diumumkan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini, untuk meringankan beban rakyat berikutan pendemik Covid-19.
Shamsul Anuar berkata, bagi pengguna elektrik bukan domestik di Semenanjung pula, diskaun diberikan lima peratus bagi kategori tarif komersial, industri dan pertanian di bawah voltan rendah, manakala pengguna elektrik dalam enam sektor perniagaan terpilih dalam inisiatif PEMERKASA Plus akan terus menerima diskaun 10 peratus bagi tempoh yang sama.
Sementara itu, pengguna elektrik di Sabah akan menikmati diskaun bil elektrik secara bersasar bagi tempoh tiga bulan bermula Julai melibatkan diskaun 40 peratus bagi penggunaan elektrik bulanan sebanyak 200kWj dan ke bawah.
"Pengguna elektrik bulanan di antara 201 hingga 300kWj terima diskaun 15 peratus; 301 hingga 500kWj (diskaun 10 peratus) dan 501 hingga 1000kWj (diskaun lima peratus).
"Bagi pengguna bukan domestik di Sabah di bawah kategori komersial, industri dan pertanian bervoltan rendah akan menikmati diskaun bil elektrik sebanyak lima peratus, sama seperti di Semenanjung," katanya.
Sepanjang tempoh kawalan pergerakan Fasa Satu Pelan Pemulihan Negara, beliau berkata, tiada pemotongan bekalan elektrik kepada semua pengguna, penangguhan pemotongan bekalan elektrik kepada pengguna domestik yang mempunyai tunggakan bil tidak melebihi enam bulan sehingga 30 September dan Pelan Bayaran Mudah untuk pengguna domestik ditawarkan sehingga 31 Disember.
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i-Citra online application opens July 15
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June 28, 2021 @ 7:20pm
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) members may apply for the newly-announced withdrawal scheme, i-Citra beginning July 15.
It said that applications can be made via the i-Citra online portal at icitra.kwsp.gov.my and the payments would be credited in the respective members' accounts in August this year.
"All members below the age of 55 are eligible to apply for i-Citra, which allows them to withdraw up to a maximum of RM5,000 subject to their total combined balance in both Accounts 1 and 2.
"The approved withdrawal amount will be paid for a period of up to five months, with a fixed monthly payment of RM1000 per month subject to savings balance and a minimum of RM50.
"An updated mobile number to receive the Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC) and an active personal bank account are required to facilitate the application process," it said in a statement issued by EPF's corporate affairs department today.
It was responding to the announcement made by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during a special address.
EPF said it supports the government's initiative to address the needs of Malaysians impacted by the pandemic by introducing the i-Citra withdrawal facility to help its members tide over the impact of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in the short-term.
"i-Citra is being introduced in response to the challenges that EPF members are facing and was developed after careful consideration on how best to assist affected members, while upholding the EPF mandate."
It said while EPF remained committed to safeguarding members' retirement funds, it acknowledged the need to balance current demands against future needs and facilitate temporary relief for members amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
For further information, members may refer to the EPF website at www.kwsp.gov.my, or contact i-Citra Hotline at 03-8922 4848.
6-month bank loan moratorium for individuals, micro entrepreneurs
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June 28, 2021 @ 5:49pm
KUALA LUMPUR: A six-month bank loan moratorium will be granted to all individual borrowers and micro-entrepreneurs to help them weather the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in unveiling the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) assistance programme today, said the moratorium will be given to all individuals, regardless of their income bracket, and would be approved automatically after application.
"There will be no conditions such as income reduction, no checks whether you have lost your job, and no need for documentation to be submitted for application (of the moratorium).
"You will only need to apply, and approval will be given automatically," he said in a special televised address this evening.
This facility, he said, would also be offered to affected small and medium enterprise (SME) operators, subject to review and scrutiny by the bank, with applications opening from July 7.
"Borrowers would only need to apply and sign an agreement to amend the relevant loan terms," said Muhyiddin.
He said since the introduction of the Pemerkasa Plus package, over 250,000 eligible borrowers have had their moratorium applications automatically approved to date, only having to choose between a three-month moratorium or a 50 per cent reduction in installment payments for six months.
The government, he said, understands the concerns of the people at this time, adding that many who were affected do not only come from the B40 group.
"I have heard and read many similar grievances from the M40 and T20 groups who have more dependents, as they are also helping family members or relatives affected by Covid-19."
He hoped the moratorium would help individual and SME loan borrowers in managing their cash flow throughout this challenging time.
"However, I would also like to advise you to make proper use of this moratorium offer, and if not urgent, do not make additional financial commitments."
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