Food supplier calls for better quality control to ensure Malaysians not getting the short end of the stick
15 Apr 2021
GEORGE TOWN – Food prices in Malaysia, especially vegetables, may be rising, but instead of getting better produce, the higher grade crops are exported and locals are left with third-grade leftovers.
Vegetable supplier David Mariadass told The Vibes that, though Malaysia produces high-quality fresh produce, such as tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and turnips from Cameron Highlands, more than often than not, it is never consumed by Malaysians.
“We send our good produce over to Singapore. For example, when we export our best tomatoes to Singapore, they repackage them and export them to Europe.
“And, guess what? The sticker on the package says ‘Product of Singapore’!”
Now that Malaysia’s population has increased and development has taken over agricultural land, David worries that food shortages will cause the price of vegetables to skyrocket, hitting the most vulnerable groups worst.
“For example, countries like India do not export foodstuff if there is not enough supply for the people, but we still export our first-grade food, even when there is not enough for our population, and we import tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and turnips of substandard quality from China.
“We also import vegetables from Thailand, and those are cheap, but when there is a high demand, it will also hike up its prices, so who will lose out in the end?”
Read more: ‘Why are our good veggies going overseas while we eat low-quality, high-priced imports?’
Thursday, 15 Apr 2021
PETALING JAYA: Maybank has issued a scam alert warning customers about a new fake Maybank2u website created by fraudsters to steal banking information.
In a post on Twitter, Maybank shared that fraudsters will attempt to lure customers to login to bogus Maybank2u sites through messages sent via WhatsApp, SMS or email.
These messages aim to hoodwink customers into revealing their personal details – such as username, password, phone number and IC number – typically with false claims that their accounts have been compromised or judged as “high risk” by the bank’s system and that the user is required to “re-verify” their details.
Maybank stated that the company will never send reminders via SMS, email or WhatsApp with links urging users to login or update their Maybank2u account.
As an added security measure, it also reminded customers to manually key in the Maybank2u URL – maybank2u.com.my – to access their account as links provided by others may not be safe.
The company previously issued an alert about a fake Maybank2u website in February which was used by scammers for phishing attacks. Customers were lured to the fraudulent website through a promotional post on Facebook with the promise of winning some prizes.
Customers who may have revealed their Maybank2u login details on scam websites are urged to contact the bank immediately at (03) 5891 4744.
Read more: Maybank warns of new fake banking website created to steal customer details
15 April 2021
THE lack of efficiency in water management continues to be the biggest threat to the country’s water distribution which is also likely to be caused by the absence of tariff hike.
Citing data from National Water Services Commission, Malaysian Water Association (MWA) president Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohd Din said five states recorded a loss in their water operating revenue in 2018.
“Malaysia has plenty of raw water of about 496 billion cu m, only taken from the surface water and only 3% is used. The volume of water supply is not the problem. The true problem is with the efficiency of water and ecosystem management.
“In 2018, five states experienced losses and still did not improve from the year before. The loss could be taken as an indication of their performance,” he said during a forum titled “Right to Clean Water in Malaysia” organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia yesterday.
According to the data, the five states were Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis and Selangor.
Selangor recorded the biggest loss with RM1.28 billion during the year, followed by Pahang with RM30.48 million and Kedah with RM10.54 million.
Abdul Kadir said the water industry has been calling for the right water pricing and the relevant tariff mechanism.
Malaysia has been experiencing slow growth in tariff hikes with some states having not reviewed their water tariff for as long as more than 30 years.
Last month, Environment and Water (KASA) Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government will require more time to come up with a restructuring plan with tariff increase that will not be burdensome.
9 April 2021
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of online jewellery scam cases have risen, with 37 cases involving losses amounting to RM239,530 recorded in the first three months this year.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Zainuddin Yaacob said the scam cases recorded in the period was the highest in the past two years.
He said throughout 2019, 21 cases were reported involving losses of RM148,444 and the total rose in the subsequent year (2020) to 44 cases involving RM261,954.
"The development of communication and technology have created online business opportunities, with unlimited access and connectivity, especially when the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Therefore, it has become the platform of choice for consumers, but at the same time, it has brought about scams involving the sale of non-existent items," he said in a statement today.
Zainuddin said his department has implemented various measures to ensure that the efforts to curb these activities are effective.
"Yet from the prevention aspect, the involvement of the public is much needed and I urge consumers to be careful in all online jewellery transactions.
The public is reminded not to believe any offer of jewellery that is below market price especially when they're made by individuals you cannot verify," he said.
April 8, 2021 @ 2:46pm
Kuala Lumpur: Sebanyak 37 kes penipuan berkaitan barang kemas membabitkan kerugian RM239,530 diterima pihak polis bagi tempoh tiga bulan pertama tahun ini.
Pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial (JSJK) Bukit Aman, Datuk Zainuddin Yaacob berkata, berdasarkan kajian, penipuan membabitkan barang kemas mencatatkan antara kes penipuan tertinggi.
"Pada 2019, sebanyak 21 kes dilaporkan membabitkan kerugian berjumlah RM148,444 dan jumlah kes meningkat kepada 44 kes pada tahun lalu dengan kerugian RM261,954.
"Bagi tempoh tiga bulan pertama tahun ini, sebanyak 37 kes direkodkan dengan jumlah kerugian RM239,530," katanya dalam kenyataan, hari ini.
Zainuddin berkata, peningkatan jumlah kes yang direkodkan dalam kes berkenaan perlu ditangani dengan serius.
"Perkembangan teknologi dan komunikasi mewujudkan peluang perniagaan secara dalam talian kerana akses mudah dan tanpa had khususnya ketika negara berdepan penularan pandemik Covid-19.
"Ia sekali gus menjadikan platform e-dagang menjadi pilihan pengguna. Namun, perkembangan ini juga turut mewujudkan jenayah penipuan penjualan barangan tidak wujud," katanya.
Beliau berkata, pihaknya sudah melaksanakan langkah-langkah yang perlu untuk memastikan usaha pembanterasan dilakukan dengan efektif serta berkesan.
Read more: Hati-hati penipuan jual beli barang kemas tak wujud
April 2, 2021 10:50 MYT
KUANTAN: Dua wanita warga emas mendakwa kerugian RM50,000 setiap seorang selepas diperdayakan untuk menyertai pelaburan menanam padi di Kemboja, yang disertai mereka sejak tujuh tahun lepas.
Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial Pahang Supt Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof berkata mangsa yang berusia 75 dan 65 tahun mendakwa tertarik untuk melabur selepas menyertai jelajah kononnya dibuat sebuah syarikat pelaburan di sebuah hotel terkemuka di sini, sekitar Jun 2014.
"Pada program jelajah itu, mangsa mendakwa mereka dijanjikan pulangan sebanyak RM52,000 setiap tiga bulan untuk tempoh tiga tahun jika mengambil satu lot padi bernilai RM50,000.
"Mangsa mendakwa mereka menandatangani surat perjanjian sekitar Ogos 2014 selepas membuat bayaran RM50,000 melalui cek yang diserahkan kepada seorang ejen syarikat tersebut," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini, hari ini.
Mohd Wazir berkata, bagaimanapun kedua-dua mangsa mendakwa tidak pernah menerima pulangan yang dijanjikan sehingga tahun ini, selain gagal untuk menghubungi ejen syarikat itu menyebabkan mereka berasa ditipu.
Siasatan lanjut dijalankan di bawah Seksyen 420 Kanun Keseksaan yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara maksimum 10 tahun dan sebat dan denda, jika sabit kesalahan.
-- BERNAMA
Sumber: https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/dua-warga-emas-ditipu-rm100000-pelaburan-tanam-padi-di-kemboja-291301
1 April 2021
LETTER: In Malaysia, efforts to pursue early financial education for the youngsters to be more financial literate has started and they are expected to begin in selected primary schools this year – a financial literacy programme.
The programme would be a collaboration between all Malaysia financial institutions known as Financial Industry Collective Outreach (Finco) alongside guidance from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and a particular focus would be directed towards the underprivileged communities.
This is indeed a positive move that is in line with expectations and hopes but perhaps, Malaysia could start infusing financial education into the curriculum a bit earlier such as beginning at the age of 6.
Generally, children are known for their ability to absorb information faster and easily compared with adults. Past literature has shown that children make great strides in economic understanding between the age of 6 to 12, such that children's understanding is "essentially adult" around age 12.
By infusing financial education into the curriculum from an early age, it allows children to acquire the knowledge and skills to build responsible financial behaviour throughout each stage of education and life.
For the syllabus structure, the art of managing money should be taught – spending, saving, investing and borrowing. Financial education does not have to be a 'stand-alone' subject. Rather, it can also be integrated into other subjects such as economics and mathematics so that practical real-life experiences can be shown to the students.
In-school education should be considered as an additional medium of learning or as an alternative to home education about financial management because not all parents are sufficiently equipped or privileged to teach their children about money and levels of financial literacy.
Read more: Timely to educate the young about financial literacy
1 April 2021
THE Consumer Claims Tribunal and Tribunal for Homebuyer Claims do not allow the disputing parties to be represented by practising lawyers. This is because they are supposed to be low-cost forums for the public’s small claims matters.
In many cases, this provision leaves the claimants at a great disadvantage as large businesses often have employees who have legal qualifications. These employees, who are not holding practising certificates from the Bar Council, are assigned to represent their employers at tribunal hearings. For all practical purposes, they are “lawyers” but are allowed to speak for their employers.
The man in the street can get the help of anyone (including lawyers) to prepare their claim forms for filing. But at the hearing, they may have difficulty presenting their cases. They may not be articulate enough or coherent in their presentation, and may not be able to rebut what the defendants’ “lawyers” are saying.
Thus, some claimants are left in a very disadvantageous position at the hearings not because they have any physical “disability”, but because their knowledge, experience, confidence and ability to articulate their thoughts are no match for the defendants’ “lawyers”.
A clause in the laws of the tribunals says: “a minor or any other person under a disability may be represented by his next friend or guardian ad litem”.
Is a layperson claimant who is facing a “lawyer” from the defendant’s side “under a disability” as he is no match for the “lawyer”? How is this section interpreted and applied by the tribunals?
1 April, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Dakwaan mengatakan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) hanya menjaga golongan peniaga di negara ini adalah tidak tepat.
Ini kerana, kementerian itu perlu memastikan semua pihak di dalam rantaian kepenggunaan disantuni sebaik mungkin demi kebaikan bersama.
Timbalan Menterinya, Datuk Rosol Wahid berkata, ia terbukti apabila golongan peniaga diambil tindakan di atas kesalahan yang dilakukan.
"Banyak saman kita keluarkan. Kalau kita jaga peniaga saja, tentu kita tak saman. Jadi kalau ada tuduhan begitu, saya rasa ia tidak tepat,"katanya pada program secara langsung di Facebook Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM), hari ini.
Turut serta sebagai panelis gandingan, Ketua Aktivis PPIM Datuk Nadzim Johan.
Hadir sama, Pengarah Bahagian Penguatkuasaan KPDNHEP Azman Adam.
Ditanya mengenai kenaikan harga mendadak pada musim perayaan, Rosol berkata, perkara itu diberi perhatian kementeriannya dengan pelancaran Skim Harga Maksimum Musim Perayaan yang diumumkan dua minggu sebelum sambutan.
Katanya, ia salah satu inisiatif KPDNHEP untuk mengawal harga dan melakukan pemantauan bagi memastikan tiada pihak mengambil kesempatan.
Turut disentuh di dalam program berkenaan ialah mengenai tindakan diambil kementerian bagi setiap aduan yang dibuat pengguna di negara ini.
"Setiap isu yang dilaporkan kepada KPDNHEP akan diambil tindakan dengan sekurang-kurangnya dalam tempoh tiga hari.
Read more: 'Simpan resit sebagai bukti jika berlaku pertikaian harga, kualiti'
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