Banks urged to waive RM1 ATM withdrawal fee
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PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has called on banks to absorb the RM1 charge for each interbank withdrawal instead of forcing customers to pay, especially since they are making huge profits.
Financial reports for 2023 showed that among Malaysia’s top four banks by asset size, Maybank’s net profits grew by 17.5% to RM9.35 billion, CIMB’s rose by 28.3% to RM6.98 billion, Public Bank’s increased by 9% to RM6.6 billion and RHB Bank’s expanded by 4.8% to RM2.81 billion.
According to Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) 2024 Payment Statistics: Payment Channels, Malaysians use ATMs twice a month on average.
Assuming that all transactions involve interbank cash withdrawals, each individual would be charged RM24 per year just because their bank’s ATM is not available near them. This does not take into account customers who use multiple banks.
Fomca CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said while the net profits of banks are a positive sign that the financial industry and economy are healthy, imposing the fee is unfair, especially when viewed from the perspective of vulnerable populations, even if it is just RM1 per transaction.
“A common concern is that the fee disproportionately affects low-income earners and rural folk, who rely on cash transactions and need to withdraw small amounts of money frequently.
“When their bank’s ATM is not available, they are forced to use the ATMs of other banks, incurring the RM1 fee each time.”
Fomca urges the PM's office to set up a division to oversee medical insurers and private hospitals
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer T. Saravanan has called for a regulatory division to be set up under the Prime Minister's Department to oversee medical insurers and private hospitals.
Saravanan said Fomca does not agree with the interim measures of limiting premium increases to 10 per cent cap, and for healthcare providers to contribute to a fund aimed at reducing insurance costs.
"We disagree with the 10 per cent cap. It should be capped at five or six per cent… We need a social healthcare financing system that will assist the public.
"We do not agree with the proposal to contribute to a fund aimed at making medical insurance more affordable. That would be a waste of money as it would still be industry-controlled and biased.
"What we need is a concrete solution for Malaysia's healthcare system," he said.
Saravanan said the temporary pause on premium increases for the elderly does not tackle the core issue, lack of transparency and governance surrounding medical inflation.
He said that currently there is no proper governance by the relevant agencies, including insurance companies and private hospitals.
Bank Negara's measures on insurance premiums merely temporary, core issues unaddressed, says Fomca
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![Burdensome': Medical insurance premiums to rise 40-70pct next year [WATCH]](https://assets.nst.com.my/images/articles/fos5-MS2611_NSTfield_image_socialmedia.var_1732581782.jpg)
PETALING JAYA: Bank Negara's measures to address rising premiums for medical and health insurance or takaful (MHIT) products will provide temporary relief to consumers but it leaves some core issues unaddressed, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca).
"We express grave concerns over Bank Negara's recent announcement on the MHIT premium increase cap of no more than 10% over a three-year period.
"While this interim measure aims to provide temporary relief to consumers, it fails to address the root causes of the escalating costs in private healthcare and the structural issues within the MHIT sector," it said.
Fomca said the proposed cap on premium increases was merely a stop-gap measure that masks the larger issue of excessive profits driven by insufficient government control and regulation of the private healthcare sector.
It urged the government to have greater responsibility in regulating the private healthcare sector, including pricing mechanisms for healthcare services and insurance premiums.
"It is high time that medical insurance policies are regulated by the government to ensure that it meets the needs of the population rather than serving as a profit-centric product for insurers," it added.
Extend Good Samaritan Act to cover food aid for the poor and hungry - Fomca
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GEORGE TOWN: The proposed Good Samaritan Act is a timely intervention as the role of first responders is crucial in times of emergency, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) said.
Fomca vice-president Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham said this was especially so with the high numbers of those suffering from non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, as well as the floods affecting vulnerable communities as a result of climate change.
She, however, called for the proposed law to be extended to cover food aid for the poor and hungry by addressing legal concerns that often hindered individuals, organisations or businesses from donating food.
"The law should explicitly state that individuals, non-profits, and businesses (like restaurants, grocery stores and caterers) donating food in good faith will not be held liable for harm caused by the donated food, as long as the food is safe at the time of donation.
"It should also state that there is no gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or reckless disregard for safety.
"This can encourage more donations by alleviating the fear of lawsuits," she told the New Straits Times.
Indrani said the definition of the Good Samaritan Act should be expanded to include food aid as a recognised act of compassion under the law, alongside traditional emergency assistance.
Read more: Extend Good Samaritan Act to cover food aid for the poor and hungry - Fomca
Rising complaints over faulty, fraudulent second-hand car sales
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KUALA LUMPUR: The National Consumer Complaint Centre (NCCC) has received thousands of complaints about second-hand vehicles, including engine damage and water leakages that cause coolant fluid to mix with engine oil.
As a result, the vehicle's engine needs to be replaced at a high cost, but second-hand car sellers refuse to take responsibility for the damage.
NCCC senior manager Saral James Maniam said these were common complaints from victims who had purchased problematic cars.
As a partner of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), the centre helps consumers resolve issues by acting as intermediaries between consumers and traders.
"Not only do buyers end up with 'defective' vehicles, but some victims purchase cars that were previously involved in serious accidents or have tampered odometers showing lower mileage," she said in a Metro Ahad report.
"Victims feel cheated when they are forced to bear repair costs. Their claims are often ignored by the sellers."
Read more: Rising complaints over faulty, fraudulent second-hand car sales
Fomca warns public on surge in fake house rental agent scams
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) today warned the public about a growing trend of scams involving fake house rental agents.
Its secretary-general, Dr T. Saravanan, said the fraudsters are pretending to be agents to scam potential tenants, including foreign students, by showing rental properties, collecting down payments and then disappearing.
"Many foreign students have fallen prey to these scams due to their unfamiliarity with local rental practices and lack of access to verified information. The scammers often present themselves as professional agents, using fake business cards, online advertisements and social media profiles to appear credible.
"They arrange property viewings, often of units they do not have legal access to, creating a sense of urgency by claiming high demand for the property. Victims are then pressured to make immediate down payments to secure the unit, only for the agents to vanish after receiving the funds," he said in a statement.
Read more: Fomca warns public on surge in fake house rental agent scams
FOMCA’s Marimuthu slams Ombudsman for Financial Services for claims delays
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THE Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) has criticised the delays in settling medical dispute claims by the Ombudsman for Financial Services (OFS).
Its president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason said the long wait erodes the trust and confidence of financial services consumers in OFS’s consumer dispute resolution system.
“The OFS was set up to provide fair treatment to consumers. Not all complaints from the financial services sector are accepted by OFS, hence no opportunity for the consumer to be heard,” he told The Health newspaper.
Marimuthu said the most serious complaint is the long waiting time for a financial service complaint to be resolved. According to the OFS 2022 report, more than 36% of cases were pending for over six months.
He was responding to an article in the March-April issue of The Health on the timeline the OFS took in settling medical claims and financial disputes. Following the article, feedback from readers indicated that it could take more than a year for a dispute to be settled.
Formerly known as the Financial Mediation Bureau, the OFS is supposed to provide independent, fair, efficient and effective dispute resolution to financial consumers. Its service is free for all financial consumers (individuals and SMEs).
Read more: FOMCA’s Marimuthu slams Ombudsman for Financial Services for claims delays
Announce targeted petrol subsidies early, says Fomca
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PETALING JAYA: A consumer group wants the government to announce early when it plans to implement the targeted subsidy for RON95 petrol to enable consumers to adjust to new and possibly higher prices.
On the other hand, an economist advises against it, saying an early announcement may cause panic buying.
T Saravanan, CEO of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), said prices will rise no matter when the government makes the announcement.
“As a result of the widespread discussions on targeted subsidies for petrol, businesses are already waiting in earnest for its implementation,” he told FMT.
“Whether (the government) announces it earlier or later, prices will definitely rise,” he said.
“Somehow or other, businesses will see additional costs and these will be transferred to consumers,” he added.
Read more: Announce targeted petrol subsidies early, says Fomca
No extra fee for 5G will help economy but govt must keep watch, says Fomca
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KUALA LUMPUR: The government's commitment to see that mobile network providers do not charge extra for 5G access helps ensure that no consumer is left behind, says the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca).
Its chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah said the decision takes into account the rising cost of living and greater 5G adoption should lead to an overall increase in productivity.
"The technology is not only capable of providing a high-speed Internet experience at a rate of 10 to 100 times or up to 1.5GB per second compared to 4G technology, but also has a better quality connection.
"The efficiency of this connection ... has great potential to boost mobile communication, in addition to creating a new industry that brings benefits to the entire economy," he said when contacted.
Saravanan hoped that despite the efficiency of 5G technology, the government will continue to monitor and investigate consumer complaints if any additional charges are imposed.
On Jan 9, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that no additional charges would be imposed by telecommunications companies on users for access to the 5G network.
Read more: No extra fee for 5G will help economy but govt must keep watch, says Fomca
LETTER | National Scam Response Centre must be reformed
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LETTER | Despite the best efforts of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), scams continue to increase, impacting severely the financial, psychological and social well-being of consumers.
In 2023 alone, according to the NSRC, overall losses due to scams totalled RM1.34 billion. In the instance of investment scams, losses more than doubled from RM209 million in 2022 to RM437 million in 2023, an increase of over 109 percent within a year.
Those affected by scams are not only ordinary consumers but also include the professional, the educated and the articulate. Thus clearly, every consumer is a potential victim of a scam.
Recognising that frequently the losses due to scams may not be recovered despite the best efforts, the best protection is certainly self-protection. Once you are a victim the possibility of recovering your losses is slim.
Read more: LETTER | National Scam Response Centre must be reformed
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