A DEAL too good to be true is likely to be a scam. At least 30 people learnt this the hard way after placing deposits ranging between a few hundred ringgit and RM7,000 to book secondhand vehicles purportedly sold at half the market rate on an e-marketplace site.
Chong Wai Motor Enterprise manager Wong Kok Choong, 32, said many victims came to his used car dealership in Kepong, which the scammer claimed to represent, only to find that they had been duped.
Read more: 30 people scammed into buying 'cheap' cars via text messages, calls
TRADE IN KERETA? AWAS!!!Sejak kebelakangan ini syarikat penjualan produk pengguna menjadikan selebriti sebagai duta produk mereka. Ini bertujuan untuk melariskan jualan produk kerana tarikan selebriti tersebut.
Jika sekadar menjadikan selebriti untuk melariskan produk tidak lagi menjadi suatu masalah besar kerana IA bergantung kepada pengguna untuk membuat pilihan sama Ada untuk membeli produk tersebut berdasarkan kegunaannya atau kerana selebriti tersebut. Keputusan membeli terletak di tangan pengguna sendiri.
Namun begitu, yang menjadi masalah ialah selebriti menjadi duta produk bagi pemasaran pelbagai peringkat atau multi level marketing (MLM), yang adakalanya bersifat skim piramid. Selebriti tersebut berperanan untuk memberikan penerangan semasa sesi ceramah syarikat untuk bakal ahli. Hasil penerangan selebriti tersebut menyebabkan ramai yang berminat menyertai skim tersebut.
Baru-baru ini akhbar telah melaporkan tentang amaran daripada penguatkuasa Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi Dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) tentang selebriti yang menjadi duta produk yang tidak berlesen untuk menarik ahli baru.
Kecenderungan melantik selebriti sebagai duta produk ini amat membimbangkan kerana mereka berpengaruh untuk menarik pengguna untuk membeli produk atau terlibat dalam skim MLM (atau skim piramid). Akibat daripada pengaruh tersebut, ramai yang terjebak membeli produk yang kurang berkualiti atau skim piramid ini.
Tindakan KPDNKK memantau kegiatan syarikat jualan langsung yang menggunakan selebriti ini amat wajar. Dalam masa yang sama pengguna juga perlu bersikap waras Dan matang dalam membuat pertimbangan membeli Dan menggunakan sesuatu produk. Pastikan kualiti produk terlebih dahulu. Jangan mudah terpengaruh dengan kedudukan selebriti sebagai duta produk yang belum tentu menunjukkan produk tersebut berkualiti.
Selain itu, pengguna juga jangan terjebak dengan pikatan selebriti untuk menarik menjadi menjadi ahli syarikat jualan langsung melalui skim MLM. Pastikan syarikat tersebut berlesen Dan menjalankan perniagaan jualan langsung yang tulen. Jika syarikat lebih banyak menekan tentang cara untuk membuat tajaan semasa sesi penerangan berbanding dengan maklumat tentang produk yang dijual, dinasihatkan supaya tidak terlibat dengan syarikat tersebut.
MOHD YUSOF ABDUL RAHMAN
Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA)
20 Mei 2010
Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) ingin memberikan penjelasan tentang kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Penasihat FOMCA, Encik Chua Kim Tee tentang perhimpunan Bersih 2.0.
FOMCA ingin memaklumkan bahawa kenyataan Encik Chua Kim Tee adalah pandangan peribadinya, bukannya pendirian rasmi FOMCA. Sebagai pertubuhan bukan kerajaan yang bersifat non-partisan dan sivil, FOMCA berpegang teguh kepada prinsip Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang membenarkan rakyat berhimpun secara aman, bebas bersuara dan sebagainya. FOMCA juga berpegang kepada Deklarasi Sejagat Hak Asasi Manusia, terutamanya Hak Ekonomi, Sosial dan Kebudayaan.
Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Encik Chua Kim Tee telah menjejaskan kedudukan FOMCA seolah-olah tidak menyokong hak asasi manusia dan bersikap partisan. FOMCA seperti gagal memainkan peranan utamanya untuk melindungi kepentingan pengguna.
KUALA LUMPUR - Hasrat kerajaan supaya projek perumahan baharu disediakan kemudahan Internet merupakan usaha awal ke arah menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara maju dan mempunyai kemudahan fasiliti komunikasi yang lengkap kepada masyarakat.
Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, penyediaan kemudahan internet seharusnya menjadi kewajipan pemaju di setiap kawasan perumahan kerana ia kini merupakan keperluan kepada semua.
Kerana itu apabila Kementerian Komunikasi dan Multimedia (KKMM) merancang menggubal satu rang undang-undang (RUU) bagi mewajibkan setiap perumahan dan bangunan baharu menyedia akses kepada internet, ia disambut baik banyak pihak.
Beliau turut mengemukakan cadangan kepada KKMM untuk memberi kemudahan itu secara pukal di sesebuah kawasan perumahan agar kos pemasangan Internet dapat dikurangkan.
"Memang kos itu kita tanggung tetapi lebih baik ia dimasukkan ke dalam kos utiliti rumah dan kita tidak perlu ada sebarang kos tambahan lagi. Kerajaan juga perlu memberi kebebasan kepada pengguna untuk memilih syarikat telekomunikasi sendiri," katanya.
Semalam, Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo ketika menggulung perbahasan usul menjunjung kasih titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi kementeriannya di Dewan Rakyat menyatakan cadangan itu kemudahan internet itu, yang boleh dikategorikan sebagai utiliti seperti bekalan elektrik dan air untuk setiap unit rumah.
Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Maconas) Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill berkata cadangan itu boleh direalisasikan, malah pihaknya mengalu-alukan cadangan itu kerana ia memudahkan orang ramai mendapat akses internet.
"Kos pemasangan internet boleh dikurangkan apabila ia dipasang semasa proses awal pembinaan rumah berbanding setelah rumah siap dibina, pada masa yang sama ia menggunakan infrastruktur sambungan telefon yang dah sedia ada di setiap rumah cuma masuk 'line' saja," katanya.
Amarjit menyarankan agar KKMM turut memberi perhatian dalam menyediakan pembangunan infrastruktur internet di kawasan luar bandar.
Sementara itu, Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Subang dan Shah Alam (Cassa) Datuk Dr Jacob George berpendirian perbincangan secara menyeluruh dan komprehensif perlu diadakan terlebih dahulu dengan semua pihak sebelum mengemukakan sebarang cadangan bagi mengelakkan pengguna menanggung beban pada akhirnya.
Beliau turut menyatakan satu laporan penuh hasil kajian yang melibatkan semua pihak berkepentingan perlu dilakukan di samping melaksanakan satu projek perintis (pilot projek) untuk melihat keberkesanannya. - Bernama
Sumber :: http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/kerajaan-komited-lengkapkan-kemudahan-komunikasi-rakyat-1.863632
2 Ogos 2018, Sinar Harian Online
KUALA LUMPUR: The public should be maximising the zero rated Goods and Services Tax (GST) period by spending more.
Such increased spending can benefit the local economy and boost the country’s economic growth.
With a GST break on 417 items, the public can enjoy better purchasing power– at least until the Sales and Services Tax (SST) kicks in on Sept 1.
The Finance Ministry has stipulated that the zero rated GST be applied for goods and services made in Malaysia as well as those from overseas.
The trade-off is that this will cause the government to lose potentially RM42 billion in revenue. LOWER PRICES A survey by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry found that in June, there was a price drop in only 70 per cent of the 417 items qualified for zero-GST.
The public had therefore yet to fully benefit from the incentive, said its minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The survey which ran from June 1 to 30 found that the prices of essential items declined between 0.04 and 13 per cent.
Prior to June 1, 2018, some 38 percent of items saw a price increase despite it being exempted from GST.
The percentage covers 98 goods, most of which were fresh produce, seafood and other products with short shelf life as well as products which price are subject to supply and demand as well as weather conditions. There was also nearly two per cent increase in standard-rated supplies affecting three out of 156 products.
The vice-president of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said that consumers might not feel the impact of the lower prices as the majority of essential items have already been exempted of GST since the tax was introduced on April 1, 2015.
Consumers needed to correct the perception that a zero-rated GST meant lower prices for all goods.
“That is not the case as the prices of goods are still the same, it is only that there is no longer a 6 per cent GST surcharge on it. For example, if the price of an item is RM10, a 6 percent surcharge would make it RM10.60. But when the GST is zero-rated, they would still need to pay RM10.
“The confusion that arose might be because the prices displayed were not inclusive of GST.
“In addition to that, the premises or shop that claim to not impose GST on its goods might have been absorbing the cost themselves all the while. This might be why there were no changes in prices despite the GST break,” he explained.
A senior lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)’s School of Economics, Finance and Banking Muhammad Ridhuan Bos Abdullah said that as zero rated GST only applied to goods starting June 1, goods that were manufactured prior to the date would still be bound by the GST surcharge.
However, such exceptions should not affect GST-exempt goods like essential food items.
“A bigger change (in price drop) would depend on the actions taken by manufacturers during this zero-GST period.
“Manufacturers would typically respond by saying that they had to factor in input costs (including those affecting imported items) and regulatory requirements that need to be adhered to. This is when the government should step in and monitor the situation from the beginning of the supply chain until the end,” he told Bernama.
Ridhuan said that reducing the prices of goods within a short time frame by giving a GST break was not as effective as supply-side policies such as government subsidies, reducing regulatory burden as well as corporate taxes.
“Most of the supply chains will start off with an existing balance (with GST) and even with the introduction of the SST, there will still not be a significant drop in prices of good in the short term.”
On the move of some restaurants that increase the prices on their menu after the implementation of zero GST, FOMCA’s Mohd Yusof said that consumers had the power to choose and take action.
“The price of food (in restaurants) are not controlled by the government but is up to the restaurants themselves.
“Consumers need to decide for themselves. If they find the prices exorbitant, then they can choose to no longer patronise it.
“If they still frequent a restaurant despite realising how expensive it costs to dine there, they are saying that they are actually okay with the price,” he said, adding that consumers need to exercise their rights to demand for fair prices.
Boycotting a restaurant or lodging a complaint to the relevant authorities were also other ways they could use to pressure a business to change unfair business policies and reduce exorbitant prices. — Bernama
Source :: http://www.theborneopost.com/2018/08/01/maximise-gst-break-by-spending-more/
1 August 2018, The Borneo Post
Picture for representational purpose only.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sales and Services Tax (SST), set to take effect on Sept 1, is poised to be beneficial for the people as it will enable them to cope with the cost of living better.
This single-stage tax is only imposed on manufacturers whereas the six per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST), which was introduced in April 2015 and zero-rated on June 1 this year, was a multi-stage tax payable by all parties in the supply chain.
Also, SST is only taxable on 38% of the consumer price index basket of goods and services, compared with GST which covered 60%.
Among the food items to be exempted from SST are sardines, milk, coffee, tea and chilli sauce.
The Finance Ministry has given its assurance that the implementation of an improved version of SST would lead to RM23 billion in taxes collected being 'returned' to the people, thus helping them to ease their financial burden.
Enhance purchasing power
Kuala Lumpur International Chamber of Commerce advisor Datuk Dr Sharifuddin Musa, who is also FM Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd chairman, said the implementation of SST would increase the purchasing power of consumers which, in turn, would boost the nation's economy.
Acknowledging that the tax would have an impact on manufacturers, he said it was, however, not an issue as consumers, particularly those in the medium- and low-income brackets, were set to reap the benefits.
"When GST was enforced everybody, regardless of whether they were poor or rich, had to pay the six per cent tax if they purchased goods on which GST was imposed. Due to this, people were reluctant to spend their money. But after this (reintroduction of SST), their purchasing power will increase because they no longer have to pay more (for goods)," he told Bernama.
He also noted that the government was maintaining the SST at six per cent for the services tax and 10% for the sales tax.
"The only thing that is uncertain is how it will be calculated as it may be different," said Sharifuddin, who hoped that the SST would not be imposed on all industries.
"I hope the government will consider exempting small and medium-sized enterprises, and perhaps bumiputera companies, from SST."
He is confident that the implementation of SST would help to stimulate the services industry, such as hotels and express bus and taxi services, due to the potential savings to be made by the operators concerned.
Improve enforcement
Meanwhile, former Universiti Utara Malaysia international business management lecturer Prof Dr Mohamad Hanapi Mohamad said under the GST regime, the tax as well as profit margin were imposed at every level of the supply chain, starting from the manufacturer to the wholesaler and retailer and finally the end-user (consumer).
He said if the supply chain had many more levels the consumer would end up being burdened as they would be forced to pay higher prices for goods on which GST is imposed.
Whilst expressing support for the reintroduction of SST, he said the government should, however, monitor the business community and step up its enforcement activities to make sure that traders did not take advantage of the situation by hiking up prices indiscriminately.
"It will be worrying if prices are raised not due to SST but because of the action of some sellers who will try to shift the tax burden to the end-users (buyers).
"In the implementation of this tax system, there is the element of input, processes and output. It's important to monitor how the inputs and processes take effect to avoid any leakage. If the authorities can oversee this matter effectively, the SST will certainly bring more benefits than GST," he explained.
Mohamad Hanapi, who is also a member of the board of directors of Picoms International University College, said the Pakatan Harapan government's thrust on transparency and integrity would also be a plus point for the effective implementation of SST,
Stop the blame game
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) advisor Datuk Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan expects the prices of goods to decrease after SST is implemented but said there were many other factors which the authorities have to pay attention to.
Apart from carrying out effective enforcement, the government should try to prevent the business community from playing the blame game.
"Usually, the retailers will blame the middle-man who, in turn, will blame the manufacturer (for any price increase)... this is often the reason (they give) for price hikes.
"We want all the parties involved to charge reasonable prices. We don't want the retailers to incur losses, neither do we want consumers to suffer. Hence, the government should find the best formula (to check the rising prices of goods) as many factors are involved... the authorities concerned should also carry out regular checks," he added. — Bernama
Source :: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/07/23/higher-purchasing-power-consumers-under-sst-analysts
23 July 2018, The Sundaily Online
KUALA LUMPUR 20 Julai – Cukai jualan dan perkhidmatan (SST) yang bakal berkuat kuasa 1 September ini dilihat mempunyai mekanisme pelaksanaan yang sedikit berbeza dengan SST versi sebelum pelaksanaan cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).
Walaupun kerajaan melalui Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) sudah menyenaraikan sebanyak 98 kategori meliputi lebih 11,000 barangan yang bakal dikecualikan daripada cukai berkenaan, masih tiada jaminan kenaikan harga tidak akan menghimpit pengguna.
Mengulas perkara itu, Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan-persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Mohd. Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, SST yang diamalkan dahulu hanya mengenakan cukai kepada barang-barang sudah disenaraikan oleh kerajaan.
Menurutnya, berbanding SST edisi baharu ini, kerajaan hanya menyenaraikan barangan dan perkhidmatan berstatus bebas daripada cukai terbabit dan perkara itu jelas menimbulkan keraguan sama ada lebih banyak produk bakal dikenakan cukai nanti.
“Maksudnya selain daripada barangan yang terdapat dalam senarai itu, semua akan dikenakan cukai jualan sebanyak 10 peratus dan cukai perkhidmatan pula enam peratus.
“SST yang dahulu. apabila hanya barangan yang disenaraikan sahaja dikenakan cukai, pengguna tidak terlalu terasa akan kesannya,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia, di sini hari ini.
Berdasarkan senarai di portal JKDM: www.customs.gov.my, antara barangan dan perkhidmatan yang dikecualikan cukai berkenaan adalah barangan keperluan asas seperti daging lembu, kambing, ikan, ayam dan sebagainya.
Sumber :: http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/lebih-banyak-barangan-bakal-dikenakan-cukai-1.713296#ixzz5M2vcdf3b
21 Julai 2018, Utusan Online
PETALING JAYA: The number of complaints on price hikes reported to the Government tripled after the zero-rating of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there were 1,400 complaints in May and with zero-rated GST from June 1, 4,500 complaints had been lodged by the end of June.
“Half the complaints were on price hikes on food and drinks at restaurants,” he said after attending the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Council Installation Night 2018 event at a hotel here.
Saifuddin urged the people to be the “eyes and ears of the Government” to monitor the prices of goods.
“The people, as consumers, will know best about the movement of prices.
“They spend at hypermarkets and retail shops, so they will know.
“The best way will be to alert the ministry so that we can formulate strategic plans,” he said.
One for the album: Chua (seventh from right) and Saifuddin (seventh from left) posing for a photo with past presidents, advisers, corporate patrons, council members and guests at the MRCA Council Installation Night 2018 event at One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya.
Saifuddin said the ministry has 1,044 officers to assist and keep track of prices.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association president Ayoob Khan Muhamad Yakub, when contacted yesterday for comment, maintained that the members had not increased prices for food and drinks.
He said the association’s 4,000 Muslim restaurant owners were operating their businesses within the requirements set by the Government.
“However, if there is any price hike, consumers have the right to complain to the ministry,” he added.
Fomca deputy president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said consumers have been expressing their dissatisfaction on social media over the prices of goods.
At the event, MRCA president Datuk Seri Garry Chua was re-elected for a second term based on his achievements and contributions to the retail and franchise industry.
Saifuddin witnessed the swearing-in of Chua and his council members for the new 2018-2020 term.
Source :: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/23/more-complaints-after-zerorated-gst-saifuddin-half-of-it-were-on-price-hikes-on-food-and-drinks-at-r/#DkUzHxqkoeci3i5i.99
23 Julai 2018, The Star Online.
KUALA LUMPUR 18 Julai- Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) menggesa kerajaan memansuhkan caj perkhidmatan antara lima hingga 10 peratus yang dikenakan ke atas pelanggan oleh pihak pengurusan hotel dan restoran mewah di seluruh negara.
Timbalan Presidennya, Mohd. Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, pihak restoran dan hotel sebelum ini menggunakan alasan bahawa caj perkhidmatan yang dikutip akan diagihkan kembali kepada kakitangan berikutan gaji pokok mereka adalah rendah.
Namun katanya, perkara itu tidak lagi relevan kerana kerajaan telah menguatkuasakan Perintah Gaji Minimum (PGM) 2016.
“Dahulu memanglah, caj perkhidmatan ini dikenakan sebagai ganti tip kepada para pekerja hotel dan restoran disebabkan gaji pokok mereka rendah tetapi setelah gaji minimum dilaksanakan, perkara itu tidak lagi relevan.
“Selepas pengguna dikenakan cukai perkhidmatan enam peratus, jadi kerajaan perlu memikirkan bagaimana untuk memansuhkan caj perkhidmatan itu,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini, hari ini.- UTUSAN ONLINE
Sumber :: http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/mansuhkan-caj-perkhidmatan-hotel-restoran-1.711348#ixzz5Lku7VEnN
18 Julai 2018, Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd
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