Federation of Malaysians Consumers Associations

Chicken price will not exceed RM9 per kg by August, says deputy minister

Details: Created: 13 July 2020

malaymail Sunday, 12 Jul 2020 04:33 PM MYT
MELAKA, July 12 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) today gave the assurance that the retail price of chicken nationwide will not exceed RM9 per kg by August.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosol Wahid, said this upon assurance given by industry players during a meeting with the ministry recently following the surge in the chicken price during the movement control order (MCO) period.

However, checks conducted by MDTCA until early this month found some traders selling the chicken for between RM8.20 to RM8.69 per kg, he told reporters after the Walkabout Price Monitoring Programme at the Historic Melaka City Council Public Market, here today.

Previously, it was viralled that in Terengganu, the price of chicken had gone up to RM10.50 per kg.

Two days ago, MDTC confirmed that there was an increase of between 10 sen and RM1.50 per kg for chicken during the period June 4 to 19.

Rosol said MDTCA would continue to monitor the prices of essential goods, especially ahead of the Aidiladha celebration at the end of this month.

Fear of public transport driving up used-car sales, say dealer

Details: Created: 13 July 2020

fmt July 12, 2020 7:00 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: Used-car dealers are smiling again as sales are going up after the three-month Covid-19 lockdown – and many buyers are those who have decided to ditch public transport.

Tony Khor, president of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia, said most buyers no longer feel comfortable using public transport.

“Our customers say they prefer to drive their own cars after Covid-19. They feel safer,” he told FMT.

He said used-car dealers did not expect this trend and had been bracing themselves for hard times.

But a recent government announcement of 100% sales tax exemption until Dec 31 on locally made cars and 50% for imported cars had led to an increase in sales.

Demand was rising for Japanese cars of about five years in age and those that are below RM30,000. The highest number of sales were in Perak, Johor and Kedah: most of the customers had formerly used express bus to travel interstate.

Do you know about the Rule of 78 imposed on early settlement of loans?

Details: Created: 13 July 2020

Sunday, 12 Jul 2020 l 10:00 AM MYT
I write to highlight something very important to consumers, especially hire purchase borrowers. I recently underwent an unpleasant experience when I looked into early settlement of such a loan from a local bank.

The silver lining of the experience is that I managed to gain knowledge on how perhaps we have been duped by the financial industry without our knowledge. This new “wisdom” that I gained is about the “Rule of 78”.

In 2014, a letter from a consumer organisation published by The Star pointed out that the Rule of 78 practiced by the banking industry for small loans is recognised as unfair practice – “it has been abolished in the United Kingdom since 2005” ("Stop using Rule of 78 for loans, banks urged").

I am surprised that an issue as important as this to borrowers and consumers was then allowed to disappear from the public’s radar without action by the authorities.

This matter impacted me pertaining to a hire purchase transaction I entered into in 2013. I bought a car as a gift for my sister. Being an existing customer of the bank and finding it convenient, I was persuaded to take a hire purchase loan from it.

Press Release: Air Selangor should increase its water reserve margin - NGO

Details: Created: 12 July 2020

fomca KUALA LUMPUR, July 10

Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) should increase its water reserve margin for at least three days during the upcoming upgrading works to avoid water supply disruption which is expected to affect 420,000 user accounts.

Malaysian Water Forum (MWF) president Saral James Maniam, in calling for proactive action, said Air Selangor should also consider continual improvement planning ideas to be implemented.

“Stop burdening consumers and businesses from time to time. It is time to improve and learn from countries such as Singapore where consumers hardly face any water disruptions due to maintenance or upgrading of facilities by the authorities,” she said in a statement today.

According to Air Selangor, the Selangor River Treatment Plant (LRA) Phase 3 (LRA SSP3) upgrading works from July 14 to 17 were needed to replace several major pipelines to improve the water supply system and plant operation’s efficiency.

KPDNHEP sahkan kenaikan harga ayam

Details: Created: 12 July 2020

10 Julai 2020
PUTRAJAYA - Harga ayam naik antara 10 sen dan RM1.50 dalam tempoh antara 4 Jun hingga 19 Jun lepas berdasarkan maklum balas diberikan peniaga, kata Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP).

Pengarah Penguat Kuasa KPDNHEP, Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman berkata, maklumat itu diperoleh susulan notis dikeluarkan KPDNHEP di bawah Seksyen 21 Akta Kawalan Harga dan Antipencatutan 2011 kepada 310 peniaga ekoran rungutan orang awam yang mendakwa berlakunya kenaikan harga ayam di peringkat peruncit.

"Berdasarkan data analisis terdapat 27 peruncit menjual ayam pada harga satu kilogram antara RM9.50 dan RM10, 26 peruncit menjual pada harga antara RM9 dan RM9.40 dan 58 peruncit menjual pada harga di bawah RM9," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Menurutnya, kenaikan harga ayam di peringkat pemborong berlaku antara 30 sen dan RM1.10, dengan harga ayam di peringkat pemborong adalah antara RM6.50 dan RM8.50, manakala di peringkat peladang pula antara RM5.70 dan RM6.

Press Release: Water Disruption once more, when this will end?

Details: Created: 12 July 2020

fomca

10 July 2020

Four-days has been scheduled for upgrading works of Selangor River Treatment Plant (LRA) Phase 3 (LRA SSP3) will affect 420,000 account holders in 290 areas in Petaling, Klang, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Langat.

Consumers will experience scheduled water supply disruptions from July 14 to July 17 when several major pipelines are replaced to improve the system and plant operation's efficiency.

Even though Air Selangor has committed to mobilizing 91 water tankers to all critical premises such as hospitals and dialysis centres and will activate eight local service centres (PKS) and provide six public water pipes from July 16 to 17, to help affected customers, will this include and be sufficient for all domestic consumers.

Many staying in high rise building, vulnerable consumers such as people with special needs and the elderly will be burdened by the water supply disruption. Water disruption that lasts up to 4 days will actually disrupt the daily life of the Consumers.

Many Consumers are already burdened with financial issues after the MCO, and this is compounded by the burden of water disruption not one day but up to 4 days.

Malaysia’s poverty line goes up to RM2,208

Details: Created: 10 July 2020

fmt July 10, 2020 3:21 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s poverty line has been revised to RM2,208 from RM980, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) said.

The poverty line, based on the basic requirements for a household to live healthily and actively, is according to 2019 methodology, the department said.

Previously, it was calculated according to the 2005 methodology, which benchmarked poverty at RM980.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the revision was in accordance with current needs that emphasise optimal food intake and quality non-food basic requirements.

In the department’s Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report and Household Expenditure Survey Report 2019 released today, it said the incidence of absolute poverty improved from 7.6% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2019, and hardcore poverty was at 0.4% in 2019 compared to 0.6% in 2016.

The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality or wealth inequality within a nation, increased by 0.008 index points from 0.399 in 2016 to 0.407 in 2019, which showed that the household income gap is widening, it said.

Pesara dakwa rugi lebih RM53,000, diperdaPesara dakwa rugi lebih RM53,000, diperdaya pelaburan bitcoin tidak wujudya pelaburan bitcoin tidak wujud

Details: Created: 10 July 2020

scam 1 Julai 10, 2020 12:51 MYT
KUANTAN: Seorang pesara kerajaan mendakwa kerugian RM53,500 selepas diperdaya oleh seorang individu untuk membuat pelaburan bitcoin yang tidak wujud.
Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial Pahang Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof berkata lelaki berusia 60 tahun dari Temerloh itu mendakwa individu tersebut diperkenalkan oleh rakannya pada pertengahan 2017.

Suspek didakwa memaklumkan pelaburan itu mengambil masa setahun untuk matang dan pelabur akan menerima keuntungan secara berterusan dalam mata wang dolar Amerika Syarikat yang akan dimasukkan ke dalam akaun kripto atas nama pelabur.

"Mangsa yang tertarik dengan tawaran itu telah memindahkan wang berjumlah RM26,500 ke akaun yang diberikan oleh suspek pada 28 Nov 2017, diikuti transaksi kedua pada 24 Jan 2018 berjumlah RM27,000.

"Bagaimanapun, mangsa mendakwa tidak pernah menerima hasil pelaburan itu menyebabkan dia berasa ditipu selain suspek juga gagal dihubungi sejak beberapa bulan lepas," katanya kepada pemberita di sini, hari ini.

Report: Annual haze may return, possible further complications to Covid-19 patients

Details: Created: 10 July 2020

malaymail Friday, 10 Jul 2020 09:54 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Medical experts have warned that the annual haze which normally occurs between June and October may return if neighbouring countries and Malaysia failed to control open burning.

Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar told English daily The Star that the haze will cause enhanced respiratory problems to Covid-19 positive risk groups such as the children and the elderly.

He said people should continue to mask up whether or not haze occurs this year as Covid-19 spreads through droplets and is not an airborne virus.

“There has been no evidence to suggest that the haze situation will increase the spread of Covid-19, so technically it’s a very remote possibility.

“But because the virus spreads through droplets, using a face mask will lessen the possibility of infection.

“I would advise people to continue using a face mask, before, during and after the haze,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Environment Department air division director Mashitah Darus said Asean countries must make sure that haze does not repeat this year.

She said polluted air can increase the risk of Covid-19 infection to the general public.

KENYATAAN MEDIA: Jaminan Air Bersih di Kelantan Sebelum 2030

Details: Created: 10 July 2020

fomca 6 Julai 2020
Kita boleh hidup tanpa makanan lebih lama tetapi tanpa air kita hanya boleh hidup 3 sehingga 4 hari sahaja. Jika satu hari tiada air di rumah, pengguna akan mula bingung memikirkan cara untuk mandi, cuci pakaian, dan memasak apa lagi jika rumah kita mempunyai anak kecil dan warga emas yang sudah uzur.

Kebiasaannya sumber bekalan air ni boleh diperolehi dengan pelbagai cara sebagai contoh dengan galian air bawah tanah; ambil dan tapis dari air sungai atau laut, pam dipasang supaya boleh menarik air dari kawasan yang tinggi.

Bagaimana jika sumber bekalan air susah untuk didapati, sehingga terpaksa dicatu dan kualiti air pula tidak memenuhi piawaian minimum yang ditetapkan? Kita semua tahu biasanya perkara begini hanya berlaku di Afrika tetapi malangnya perkara ini turut berlaku di bumi Kelantan Darul Naim.

Penduduk Kota Bharu terpaksa mencatu bekalan air sehingga ada yang tidak mandi, semata-mata untuk penjimatan bekalan keperluan yang paling asas untuk manusia iaitu AIR. Situasi terbabit dialami penduduk sepanjang Ramadan lalu yang menyukarkan mereka untuk menjalani kehidupan dengan baik seperti yang telah dipetik dari akhbar Harian Metro yang bertarikh 18 Mei 2020.