February 3, 2021 @ 2:45pm
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged consumers to be wary when buying laptops or computers (either old, refurbished or new), especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was because they were potential targets for scammers or opportunists who prey on people making hasty decisions during such times.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader also called on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) to continue monitoring the sales of computer and computer equipment.
He said with the emergence of online businesses and students having to study online, there had been a spike in demand for laptops or computers.
"CAP wants to caution people wanting to purchase such devices or equipment to be wary of three particular things namely scams, warranties and prices.
"Try not to purchase through social media such as Facebook or WhatsApp because it is not possible to know the reliability of the seller.
"It would be advisable to acquire a second-hand or refurbished equipment from someone you know and preferably known to be reliable. The reason is that, if there is anything wrong, you can easily find the person as compared to one who lives far away.
"There have been cases of people buying electronic items from other states only to discover that the equipment is defective," he said today.
Mohideen cited the case of a woman who had purchased a "deal of a lifetime" iPhone, only to find a rusty lock (without any key) inside the parcel she received after making payment.
Read more: CAP: Be wary when buying laptops, computers during pandemic
January 24, 2021 @ 3:26pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Consumer groups are calling on Bank Negara to include them in negotiations related to easing the expenses of those who are forced to go to private hospitals due to the pandemic.
Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said consumer associations should be given a seat at the table during these discussions.
"This is due diligence. We need to ensure people's interests are protected and there are no loopholes for others to manoeuvre the discussion against this spirit.
"We can't, for instance, have the cost for private hospitalisation for Covid-19 or otherwise covered in exchange for higher premiums," he said, adding that the association had received lots of insurance cases recently.
He said opening up discussions to associations such as theirs would enable people to gauge whether the terms and conditions were impressed on the insurance providers.
"The overarching fact is that Malaysia is facing an emergency and everyone has to tackle it together.
"And this means that all stakeholders, be they the government, private hospitals or patients, must absorb the costs together, equitably."
Read more: Bank Negara urged to include consumer groups in talks
LONDON: Malaysian students in the United Kingdom can now turn to Mercy Care Helpline to deal with issues that affect their mental health in the time of Covid-19.
Mercy Care Helpline or Talian Kasih Mercy is a confidential helpline from Mercy Malaysia UK (MMUK) in collaboration with the Malaysian High Commission, Education Malaysia Global Services, Public Service Department, Majlis Amanah Rakyat, Health & Wellbeing IKRAM UKE and the United Kingdom & Eire Council for Malaysian Students.
"There are many challenges in what we do. But for students in particular, away from friends and family in Malaysia, things can be much more difficult," said Zahid Rastam, the charge d'affaires ad-interim at the Malaysian High Commission in the UK, who launched the helpline virtually on Saturday.
Zahid described the initiative as timely and necessary, considering the current situation.
"This helpline is for Malaysian students to talk, to share whatever they feel (so that) early intervention can be provided to those who need help or have mental health issues," said Zahid.
He added that students faced academic pressures and expectations apart from financial problems and issues with accomodation and rent.
Covid-19 also created a lot of uncertainties and restrictions on people's movements and travel, forcing them into isolation.
Zahid said students were also concerned about whether they could see their families and friends in Malaysia again soon.
Read more: Talian Kasih Mercy helps Malaysian students cope with mental health issues
January 17, 2021 11:24 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Insurance and takaful companies said today they are working with the health ministry and Bank Negara Malaysia to explore ways to ease some of the expenses of Covid-19 patients who are treated in private hospitals.
In a joint statement, the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia, General Insurance Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Takaful Association said pandemic-related risks are generally not covered under any insurance and takaful plans worldwide.
“The exclusion stems from the difficulty in pricing for coverage relating to an event like a pandemic that may occur once in a lifetime, having an incalculable impact and cost. Covid-19 is a pandemic; hence it is not insured or covered under medical and health insurance or takaful benefits,” they said.
However, most life insurers and takaful operators in Malaysia had provided supplementary benefits such as daily hospital income to be paid to the affected policy holders, the associations said.
They said they had put in place various relief measures to help policy holders cope with the financial impact of the pandemic.
The measures included the deferment of premiums, which have helped more than one million policy holders, whose premiums amounted to more than RM1.6 billion.
Read more: Insurance companies seeking ways to ease patients’ expenses
13 Jan 2021, 8:22 am
The General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) has given its assurance that the proclamation of emergency, which began on Jan 11 and will last until August, won't void general insurance claims.
"PIAM wishes to assure all general insurance policyholders that claims incurred during the Emergency Proclamation period will be paid according to their policy terms and conditions.
"All policyholders, both businesses and individuals, are advised to obtain more
information from their respective insurance companies," it said in a statement.
Yesterday, Istana Negara confirmed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to a national state of emergency at the government's request.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the emergency is to combat the spread of Covid-19 and assured that elections will be restored once the pandemic is under control.
In his speech on the proclamation of emergency, Muhyiddin also noted efforts to pressure him into holding snap polls during the pandemic, something which the prime minister said he is unwilling to do.
Umno has accused Muhyiddin of using the emergency to get around the fact that he now runs a minority government.
Three Umno MPs have renounced Muhyiddin to date, leaving him in control of 109 out of 220 MPs. Two more seats are vacant.
Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/558715
December 1, 2020 @ 11:29pm
SHAH ALAM: Young Malaysians appear to be more investment savvy, as many took advantage of a dip in gold prices last week by investing in the precious metal.
According to Khalifah Jewels Shah Alam branch manager Mohd Faiz Mohd Taib, in recent years, his clientele has become younger, and keen on investing in gold.
When the price of the precious metal dropped last week, customers made a beeline for the outlet's branches in Shah Alam and Bangi to trade in old gold or buy new gold.
"Among the factors that affected the price of gold was the United States presidential election and the announcement of the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. This saw the price of gold dip and people are keen to take up the opportunity to buy the precious metal for investment when it is cheaper.
"Also, we have been offering special promotions at our jewellery outlets, since it is the store's sixth anniversary, so people were taking advantage of the promotion to purchase gold jewellery either for the first time or as part of our regular customers.
"We also offer trade-ins to our customers at the current price of gold. Some of our customers purchase their new jewellery, which is much more modern and sleek, by trading their old ones with us," he said.
Read more: Young Msians buying gold as investment make killing when price dips
December 23, 2020 @ 5:33pm
PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has called on traders not to make any hasty decision over the sale of frozen meat in the country amid concerns over its halal status following the recent discovery of fake halal certification.
Its minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said, by collectively stop the sale of frozen meat in an abrupt manner, meat traders could pose a problem for many consumers.
"This could inevitably lead to the sale of genuine halal-certified meat in the market being halted as well, causing a problem to those who want to consume the meat," he said.
Alexander was responding to the New Straits Times (NST) report on calls by Kuala Lumpur Bumiputera Traders and Hawkers Association to its members to temporarily halt the sale of beef-based products, following reports that a meat cartel had been importing non-certified halal meat and slapping it with fake halal certificates.
Yesterday, its president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman had said the move was necessary to address the growing doubt over the halal status of frozen beef in the market.
Alexander said Muslim consumers were advised to refrain from buying imported frozen meat if they feel uncertain of its halal status.
"Only buy from reliable sources while waiting for the investigations to be concluded," he said at the launch of Back to School Programme and Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) Prihatin Business Registration Scheme (SPPP) held at the ministry's today.
Read more: Domestic Trade Ministry: Don't make hasty decision by stopping the sale of imported meat
Disember 23, 2020 17:48 MYT
KUALA LUMPUR: Pengguna boleh mengemukakan tuntutan terhadap pembekal perkhidmatan telekomunikasi sekiranya terdapat kemungkiran atau ketidakpuasan terhadap perkhidmatan yang dijanjikan.
Pengerusi Tribunal Tuntutan Pengguna Malaysia (TTPM) Wan Rufaidah Wan Omar berkata jika tuntutan itu turut melibatkan isu terma-terma kontrak yang tidak adil, pihaknya boleh menimbangkan untuk mengetepi atau mengubah terma-terma yang tidak adil itu yang termaktub di bawah Akta Perlindungan Pengguna 1999.
"Memandangkan kontrak pembekal perkhidmatan lazimnya telah disediakan secara standard dan tidak dirundingi oleh kedua-dua pihak, pengguna disarankan untuk membaca syarat dan terma kontrak sebelum menandatangani atau bersetuju untuk menerima perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian dalam ceramah bertajuk 'Kesilapan Umum Pengguna Sebelum dan Selepas Melanggan Perkhidmatan' anjuran Forum Pengguna Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (CFM) yang berlangsung di laman sosial Facebook CFM, baru-baru ini.
Beliau yang merupakan salah seorang penceramah di program itu berkata demikian ketika disoal oleh seorang penonton sama ada terdapat sebarang akta yang boleh melindungi pengguna sekiranya timbul percanggahan dalam kontrak.
Mengulas lanjut, Wan Rufaidah berkata pihaknya akan meneliti semula kandungan kontrak perkhidmatan terbabit sekiranya kes 'berat sebelah' itu dilaporkan kepada TTPM.
Read more: Pengguna boleh kemuka tuntutan terhadap pembekal khidmat telekomunikasi
Monday, 14 Dec 2020 | 6:15 PM MYT
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is warning members of the public to be careful when throwing out empty delivery packaging, as scammers can easily steal their personal information from them and use their details for nefarious purposes.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Zainuddin Yaacob said this in a statement after a viral video depicted an unidentified fraudster retrieving the name, phone number and home address of a victim from a delivery package that had been discarded at a rubbish bin in a public area.
The scammer then began repeatedly contacting the victim in multiple attempts to extort money from them. The statement also revealed that the suspect later posed as an employee of a delivery company and showed up at the victim’s home, demanding that the victim’s family pay for a package that had allegedly been ordered but not yet paid for.
In order to convince the family member of the victim to make the payment, they were reportedly even told to scan a barcode before they could accept the ordered item.
Datuk Zainuddin said although the authorities have yet to receive any reports of such incidents, he said that investigations will be conducted under Section 420 of the Penal Code which stipulates that a ten-year prison sentence and caning will be carried out for such offences.
Members of the public are urged to lodge a police report to help with investigations if they have fallen victim to such scams.
Read more: PDRM: Scammers may be stealing your personal info from discarded delivery packages
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