Inefficiency the main issue in water management
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.
Bukit Aman: Online jewellery scams on the rise
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.
Hati-hati penipuan jual beli barang kemas tak wujud
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
Dua warga emas ditipu RM100,000 pelaburan tanam padi di Kemboja
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
Consumers left in unfavourable position
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?
Timely to educate the young about financial literacy
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
Pesara terjerat cinta jejaka Poland
Mac 31, 2021 @ 10:26am
Jempol : Seorang wanita yang juga pesara kerajaan menjadi mangsa penipuan love scam sehingga mengakibatkan kerugian RM10,800.
Ketua Polis Daerah Jempol Superintendan Hoo Chang Hook berkata mangsa berusia 54 tahun pada awalnya mengenali seorang lelaki bernama Mohamed Ibrahim yang mendakwa dirinya seorang warganegara Poland melalui Facebook pada Disember tahun lalu.
Katanya lanjutan itu, mangsa dan lelaki yang tidak ditemui itu kemudian sepakat menjadikan hubungan maya sebagai pasangan kekasih.
"Mangsa kemudian dijanjikan akan mendapat pelbagai hadiah antaranya beg tangan, kasut, baju, barang kemas dan wang sebagai tanda persahabatan.
"Lelaki Poland itu kemudian memberitahu mangsa bahawa sudah mengepos barangan yang dijanjikan namun gagal melepasi pemeriksaan pihak berkuasa.
"Mangsa kemudian dihubungi ejen penghantaran bagi menyelesaikan masalah barang yang tersekat dan diminta membuat pembayaran," katanya di sini.
Hoo berkata mangsa yang percaya dengan masalah itu, kemudian membuat pembayaran menerusi satu akaun bank.
Katanya mangsa sekali diminta membuat pembayaran namun menyedari sudah ditipu.
'Simpan resit sebagai bukti jika berlaku pertikaian harga, kualiti'
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'
Govt servant cheated of almost RM30,000 in non-existent loan scheme
Tuesday, 30 Mar 2021 9:08 PM MYT
PORT DICKSON: A 33-year-old government servant has been cheated of almost RM30,000 in a non-existent loan scheme here, says district OCPD Supt Aidi Sham Mohamad.
He said the victim had come across an advertisement on Facebook and decided to apply for a RM40,000 personal loan.
"However, a male suspect he was corresponding with asked the victim to bank in some money supposedly meant as fees to process his application, for insurance payment, legal and miscellaneous fees.
"The victim followed the instructions and banked in the money in stages into three separate accounts," he said in a statement.
After having banked in RM29,721, the victim was asked to remit another RM25,000 which was supposedly the final processing fee.
Supt Aidi Sham said the victim was also told that if he refused to do so, he would be blacklisted.
"The victim decided against banking in more money as he realised that he was being conned," he said, adding that the victim lodged a report on Sunday (March 28).
Supt Aidi Sham said police were probing the case under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Read more: Govt servant cheated of almost RM30,000 in non-existent loan scheme
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