Wednesday, April 29, 2015

2609) UTUSAN - 29/04/15 - Tapis Kemasukan Warga Afrika



2608) SINAR HARIAN - 29/04/15 - Kaji Kemasukan 'Awang Hitam'



2607) HARIAN METRO - 29/04/15 - 'Mereka Bukan Nak Belajar'



2606) TV PPIM - 28/04/15 - Ancaman Warga Afrika

2605) MYNEWSHUB -28/04/15 - Ketatkan Kemasukan Awang Hitam Kaki Penipu & Maksiat

Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) menyeru agar Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) dan pengurusan institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) agar mengetatkan pengambilan pelajar asing terutamanya warga Afrika.
Menurut Ketua Aktivis, Datuk Nazim Johan, kebanjiran ‘awang hitam’ di negara ini mampu mengancam penduduk tempatan kerana sebahagian mereka datang bukanlah untuk menuntut ilmu tetapi menjalankan aktiviti tidak sihat.
DSC_1615
Ujar Nazim, “PPIM terima banyak aduan berkenaan warga Afrika sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.

[Persatuan Pengguna Islam Gundah Ancaman Awang Hitam]

“Malah ramai antara mereka yang aktif dengan kes penipuan Internet dan bersekududukan dengan warga tempatan. Ini yang merisaukan kita.”
Menurutnya lagi, kebanyakan warga Afrika berjaya masuk ke negara ini melalui visa pelajar namun ada yang hilang tanpa dapat dikesan selepas tamat semester pertama.
Dalam pada itu, Nazim turut berkata, pihak universiti mahupun kolej haruslah memaklumkan kepada pihak Imigresen berkaitan lokasi tempat tinggal mereka agar mudah dijejaki.
DSC_1624
“PPIM menggesa supaya institut pengajian tinggi dan swasta melaporkan kehilangan mereka kepada Kementerian Pendidikan supaya hal ini dapat dibendung.
“Kemasukan mereka perlu dikaji semula dan kami berharap agar kelulusan pengambilan warga Afrika juga diteliti semula dan syarat-syaratnya diperketat.
“Kami juga menyarankan agar pemilik rumah jangan berurusan dengan mereka. Jangan menyewakan rumah kepada mereka kerana mereka beroperasi di rumah untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja penipuan Internet dan ada yang tak bayar sewa rumah.”
Antara lain, aduan yang diterima turut berkaitan dengan warga Afrika yang menggunakan akaun bank milik warga tempatan yang akhirnya menyebabkan pemilik akaun tersebut ditangkap.
“Orang itu pun dah lari ke luar negara selepas pemilik akaun itu ditangkap dan dia juga meninggalkan dua orang anak. Selain itu, kami juga menerima aduan bahawa seorang ustaz dan tok imam juga ditipu hampir RM800,000. Mereka sangat bijak.”
– MYNEWSHUB.CC
Oleh: IZZAT MOHD ANUAR
Foto: RIZA RAZAK

2604) THE RAKYAT POST - 28/04/15 - KPM, IPT Digesa Perketat Pengambilan Pelajar Warga Asing

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Datuk Nadzim (kiri) berkata, PPIM menerima aduan bahawa ada warga Afrika yang didapati menggunakan akaun bank milik warga tempatan dan pemilik akaun itu pula ditangkap polis.

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 APRIL:

Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) menggesa Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) dan institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) supaya mengetatkan pengambilan pelajar warga asing khususnya dari Afrika yang mahu melanjutkan pengajian di negara ini.
Presidennya, Datuk Nadzim Johan berkata, lambakan pelajar warga asing itu boleh membawa ancaman kepada warga tempatan kerana kehadiran mereka bukanlah untuk belajar sebaliknya aktif dengan penipuan Internet dan ‘black money’.
“PPIM terima banyak aduan berkenaan warga Afrika sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini. Ada yang ditipu, tak mahu bayar sewa rumah dan ada yang hilang dalam masyarakat selepas mendaftar di IPT.
“Malah ramai di antara mereka aktif dengan kes penipuan Internet dan yang bersedudukan dengan warga tempatan. Ini yang merisaukan kita,” katanya kepada pemberita dalam sidang media mengenai ancaman warga Afrika di Our Private Place, Villa Puteri Condominium, Jalan Tun Ismail.
Menurutnya, ramai pelajar warga Afrika ini masuk ke Malaysia menggunakan visa pelajar tetapi selepas tamat semester pertama, mereka hilang begitu sahaja tanpa dapat dikesan.
Dalam pada itu, pihak institut pengajian juga perlu melaporkan kepada pihak Imigresen supaya lokasi mereka dapat dikenal pasti pihak berkuasa.
“PPIM menggesa supaya institut pengajian awam dan swasta melaporkan kehilangan mereka kepada Kementerian Pendidikan supaya hal ini dapat dibendung. Kemasukan mereka perlu dikaji semula dan kami berharap agar kelulusan pengambilan pelajar warga Afrika juga diteliti semula dan syarat-syaratnya diperketatkan.
“Kami juga menyarankan agar pemilik rumah juga jangan berurusan dengan mereka. Jangan menyewakan rumah kepada mereka kerana mereka beroperasi di rumah untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja penipuan Internet dan ada yang tak bayar sewa rumah,” katanya.
Nadzim berkata, pihaknya juga menerima aduan bahawa ada warga Afrika yang didapati menggunakan akaun bank milik warga tempatan dan pemilik akaun itu pula ditangkap polis.
“Orang itu pun dah lari ke luar negara selepas pemilik akaun itu ditangkap dan dia juga meninggalkan dua orang anak. Selain itu, kami juga menerima aduan bahawa seorang ustaz dan tok imam juga ditipu hampir RM800,000. Mereka sangat bijak.
“Saya sendiri pernah dihubungi mereka dan ditawarkan emas, harta yang tersangkut di lapangan terbang dan sejumlah wang. Bila saya bertemu dengan mereka, kemudiannya dia beritahu nak jumpa abang tetapi lari setelah mengetahui yang kami sedang mengawasi mereka dari jauh,” katanya.

2603) THE RAKYAT POST - 23/04/15 - Hati-hati dengan Tawaran Kenderaan Mewah pada Harga Rendah

SIDANG-MEDIA-JPJ-SPRM-TRP-M-600x360
SPRM dan JPJ membongkar kegiatan sindiket kenderaan klon ekoran rampasan sebanyak 153 kenderaan di Terengganu baru-baru ini.

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 April:

Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) menasihatkan orang ramai supaya berhati-hati dan tidak terpengaruh dengan sindiket yang menawarkan kenderaan pada harga yang rendah.
Nasihat berkenaan diberi berikutan kejayaan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dan Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) membongkar kegiatan sindiket kenderaan klon ekoran rampasan sebanyak 153 kenderaan di Terengganu baru-baru ini.
Ketua Aktivis PPIM, Datuk Nadzim Johan berkata, mereka terlebih dahulu perlu menyemak status kenderaan yang hendak dimiliki berkenaan kerana mungkin terdedah untuk membeli kenderaan ‘klon’.
Menurutnya, mereka perlu tahu bahawa memiliki kenderaan berkenaan bukan sahaja bakal berdepan hukuman daripada pihak berkuasa malah berbahaya kerana tiada perlindungan insurans sekiranya berlaku kemalangan.
“Malah perbuatan mengambil hak orang lain juga menyebabkan mereka yang tidak terlibat akan terheret dengan pelbagai risiko bahaya.
“Ada segelintir pengguna yang sanggup mengambil risiko-risiko ini kerana mereka tidak faham kesannya kepada diri sendiri serta orang-ramai,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Rakyat Post hari ini.
Tambah Nadzim, golongan berkenaan memandang remeh risiko yang bakal dihadapi semata-semata ingin memiliki kenderaan mewah sekaligus memberi keuntungan kepada sindiket.
Jelasnya, PPIM menggesa pihak berkaitan termasuk pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) agar mengadakan program pendidikan bagi menimbulkan kesedaran pengguna serta mereka lebih faham mengenai isu berkenaan sebagai langkah jangka masa panjang menanganinya.
“PPIM akan terus menyokong usaha SPRM dan JPJ dalam membanteras isu ini supaya tiada lagi pengguna yang tertipu dan bersubahat dengan sindiket.
“Kejayaan menumpaskan sindiket berkenaan berjaya menyelamatkan ramai pengguna daripada terus ditipu sindiket atau teraniaya apabila hak mereka disalahgunakan oleh pihak lain,” ujarnya.

2602) KOSMO - 29/04/15 - Ketatkan Visa Warga Afrika


2601) KOSMO - 29/04/15 - Pelbagai Mekanisme Atasi GST



Tuesday, April 28, 2015

2600) THE ANT DAILY - 24/04/15 - ‘The NeverEnding Story’ of M'sians Being Conned by Africans

QUICK TAKE: A whopping RM68 million! 
That's how much Malaysians lost to the "African scam", last year alone. 
If Malaysia made its own version of 80s hit movie "The NeverEnding Story", it would be based on the premise of silly, gullible people falling victim to scams. 
A recent report in Malay daily Harian Metro says the losses were incurred from only 1,750 victims, almost 70% of whom were women. 
"Records show that 1,205 of the total were women and the remaining 545, men. The number has also seen an increase from 1,095 cases in 2013," said the report. 
It all starts with correspondence in the social media. 
The daily spoke to a victim, a 36-year-old single mother who only wanted to be known as Rohana. She lost more than RM350,000 in cash and her house, to a trap set by an African conman, who pretended to be a Scottish citizen called Marc. 
Barely a year into their friendship, Marc convinced Rohana to become her partner in his "oil and gas" business in Sabah. 
"He was very convincing when he spoke about the business. He often demanded money from me to face "teething" problems in the business, which I banked into a third party account. 
"Even then, I was not suspicious of his real motives. I was convinced that I would soon get back my investment," she told the daily. 
Pressed for cash once, Rohana even sold her house in Selayang to pay the conman, which earned the chagrin of her family members. 
Rohana still harbours hopes that she will get her money back. 
"I was in touch with him several days ago and he assured me that I will get my share. He told me he was in Sabah to run some business related errands and I plan to give him another RM2,000 to help him settle whatever is pending," she was quoted as saying. 
This despite the only form of correspondence Rohana has with Marc, is via Facebook.
Another victim the daily spoke to, was also a single mother aged in her 50s. This woman lost RM72,000 to a conman, through the "Parcel scam" - where she was asked to pay the money in order to retrieve a parcel with "special gifts" addressed to her, from the Customs Department. 
This woman, despite being told by the reporter that she may have fallen victim to an African Scam, refused to believe it and said she had never heard of such scams. 
Wow, such stupidity, and gullibility. Some people can't see a train wreck headed their way, even if it hit them on their faces. 
The plight of both women were highlighted to the daily by the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) and the police. 
Just two days ago, police arrested 10 Nigerian men and a Filipino woman for running such scam in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. 
The suspects, aged between 25 and 35, had all entered the country using student visas. 
There truly seems to be no end to cases of locals being conned by Africans, who see our shores as a goldmine, and rightly so. 
Women like Rohana and her likes are prime examples of “money can buy you anything but a brain”.

Sources : http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/-The-NeverEnding-Story-of-M-sians-being-conned-by-Africans#sthash.eWBZh8OU.dpuf

2599) BERITA HARIAN - 28/04/15 - Mangsa Sindiket Diminta Buat Laporan Polis


2598) MYNEWSHUB - 27/04/15 - Persatuan Pengguna Islam Gundah Ancaman Awang Hitam


Kebanjiran warga Afrika di Malaysia dilihat banyak mendatangkan masalah terutamanya dari aspek keselamatan diri apabila ada sebahagian mereka bertindak menipu, mengugut malah turut menganggu gadis tempatan.
Menurut Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM), pihaknya menerima banyak aduan berkaitan masalah-masalah tersebut dari masyarakat Malaysia.
Memetik kenyataannya dalam satu siaran media, kebanyakan warga Afrika berjaya masuk ke Malaysia melalui visa pelajar, namun ada antara mereka yang tidak menghabiskan pengajian dan memilih untuk menjalankan aktiviti penipuan seperti black moneyInternet scamming serta penipuan harta dan wasiat.
Lebih parah lagi, golongan ini turut menganggu gugat keharmonian sosial dalam masyarakat Malaysia apabila berjaya memperdaya wanita tempatan untuk menjadi teman wanita lantas membawa kepada masalah baru iaitu anak luar nikah.
Oleh itu, pihak PPIM dan beberapa NGO lain menggesa pihak bertanggungjawab untuk mengambil tindakan segera bagi membendung gejala negatif ini dari terus berlaku.
* Satu sidang media akan diadakan esok (28 April 2015) bagi memperincikan usul yang akan dibawa mereka.
– MYNEWSHUB.CC

Sunday, April 26, 2015

2597) MKL CRIMEDESK - 24/04/15 - Ops BAH Dari Pelbagai Agensi dan NGO

2596) TV PPIM - 25/04/15 - PPIM Turut Serta Ops BAH DBKL

2595) THE SUN DAILY - 23/04/15 - Service Charge Stays

PUTRAJAYA: Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to impose service charge after all.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said after a meeting with 14 associations and NGOs, and eight government agencies and ministries on Monday, the government had decided to let them maintain service charges.
"We have come to a collective decision, and the government has agreed to allow service charge to be imposed by hotels and restaurants," he told a press conference at the ministry today.
He said the government has not set a fixed amount for service charge that hotels and restaurants can impose, but noted that the standard practice in the country is 10%.
This is an about turn on the announcement by the minister, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, who on April 13 said the ministry aimed to abolish the service charge after receiving much criticism from various consumers associations and consumers themselves.
Alias said today the decision was made after taking into consideration that the basic wages in some hotels are as low as RM350, and potential employees will shy away from working in the industry if the take-home pay is too low.
Alias, however, said hotel and restaurant operators imposing service charges will have to abide by a decision made at the meeting to:
» display notices at the premises to notify customers about the service charge to enable them to make a choice on whether to patronise the establishment; and
» have a collective agreement (CA) or an employment contract with their staff on the payment of service charge.
He said guidelines will be formulated by the ministry to ensure that hotel and restaurant operators adhere to rules on imposing service charge.
"It is still in the discussion stage, but we hope to finalise everything soon," said Alias, adding that the ministry will confer with the Attorney-General's Chambers on the regulations and guidelines first.
"In the meantime, if any cases crop up, we will refer to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Acts," he said.
Among those present at Monday's meeting were the Customs Department, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) and the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners.

2594) HARIAN METRO - 25/04/15 - Rakyat Malaysia Baik Hati




2593) KOSMO - 25/4/15 - Penjual Mungkin Ada Agenda Tersembunyi


2592) THE STAR - 25/04/15 - Consumers Beleaguered by Rising Costs Say 'No'



2591) UTUSAN MALAYSIA - 25/04/15 - Caj Perkhidmatan Dua Kali Ganda



2590) METRO AHAD - 19/04/15 - Anda Tanya? PPIM Jawab


2589) METRO AHAD - 19/04/15 - Umpan Hadiah Misteri Lumayan



2588) SUNDAY MAIL - 19/04/15 - PPIM: Muslims Cannot Pick and Choose What to Practice





Friday, April 24, 2015

2587) METRO AHAD - 05/04/15 - Anda Tanya? PPIM Jawab


2586) SINAR HARIAN - 22/04/15 - Isu Klon: Semak Status Kenderaan Sebelum Beli

Datuk Nadzim Johan

KUALA LUMPUR - Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) menasihatkan pengguna agar menyemak status kenderaan sebelum membelinya bagi mengelak daripada memiliki kenderaan klon.
Ketua aktivisnya, Datuk Nadzim Johan berkata pengguna bukan sahaja berdepan dengan hukuman dari pihak berkuasa, malah terdedah kepada bahaya kerana tiada perlindungan insurans kemalangan yang disediakan.

"Ada segelintir pengguna sanggup mengambil risiko kerana mereka tidak faham kesan kepada diri sendiri serta orang ramai," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.
Baru-baru ini, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) bersama Jabatan Pengangkutan jalan (JPJ) membongkar kegiatan sindiket kenderaan klon susulan rampasan sebanyak 153 kenderaan berkenaan bernilai lebih RM13 juta di Terengganu.

Dalam operasi bersepadu itu, seramai 10 individu ditahan yang mana tiga daripada mereka merupakan orang tengah bagi sindiket itu. - Bernama

2585) HARIAN METRO - 24/04/15 - Pantau Jualan Atas Talian


Thursday, April 23, 2015

2584) KOSMO - 23/04/15 - Caj Perkhidmatan 10 Peratus Dibenar



2583) UTUSAN MALAYSIA - 23/04/15 - Hotel, Restoran Boleh Caj 10% Jika Ada CA



Sumber : http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/hotel-restoran-boleh-8232-caj-10-jika-ada-ca-8232-1.83897

2582) HARIAN METRO - 23/04/15 - Izin Caj Hotel


2581) BERITA HARIAN - 23/04/15 - Kajian Lanjut Wujud Perundangan Khusus


2580) KOSMO - 22/04/15 - 26 Premis Perniagaan Haram Diarah Tutup Berubah Wajah


2579) KOSMO - 22/04/15 - Kempunan Nak Rasa Duit KWSP



Monday, April 20, 2015

2576) BERNAMA - 16/04/15 - Broadband Service Must Improve Despite Price Reduction - Consumers

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- The quality of broadband service should continuously be improved even though subscribers are expected to enjoy lower prices for the broadband packages soon.

Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the telecommunications companies involved should ensure that their subscribers were satisfied with the service.

"The main complaint among the subscribers is that the service has too many hiccups, while they have to pay quite an expensive fee to use it.

"With all those hiccups, the service provided wouldn't mean a thing for the subscribers even if it's free," he told Bernama when contacted here.

Yesterday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek announced that the prices for the basic broadband packages were expected to drop by between 11 and 57 per cent in a month or two.

Nadzim said the price reduction move was deemed apt as the service had become a necessity among today's consumers.

"I'm sure the announcement will be lauded by all quarters because many of their daily activities need them to use the broadband service as the main medium of communication. As a consumer, I personally thank the government for viewing the matter seriously," he said.

For Ikhwan Afiz Zainol, the broadband packages price reduction was appropriate, but the main aspect that should be focused on was the quality of the service.

He said being a marketing officer, an uninterrupted broadband service was very important to him.

"I purchased the latest telecommunication devices to help me to be better in my work, but the problematic broadband service is disrupting my work flow," he said.

Nurin Hana Jasni also lauded the price reduction move, saying that the broadband service was a necessity, but the quality must also be given attention.

"As a lecturer and a student, high quality broadband service is very important to me.

"I need to get in touch with my students, as well as my lecturers, most of the time. I use the Internet through my smart phone for various transactions. So, I don't even mind paying more to have a better broadband service," she said.

-- BERNAMA

Sumber : http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/newsindex.php?id=1126877

Friday, April 17, 2015

2574) THE SUN DAILY - 16/04/15 - Ministry Questions Decision to Impose Service Charge

PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry has questioned the insistence of some hotels and restaurants in imposing the 10% service charge by claiming that it is part of their employees' income.
Citing examples of some premises which do not impose the service charge, ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said the matter would not be an issue if the businesses restructured the salaries of their staff.
“There are many hotels and restaurants which I can name that do not impose these charges. The question is how can they survive without charging for their services?
“And why aren’t the others following the footsteps of the said premises?” he said in a press conference on the latest update on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the ministry’s complex, here today.
Alias said it would benefit all parties if the hotels and restaurants comply with the current salary system and minimum wage requirements
“It would be great if they can transfer the service charges that they are imposing into their input costs for the salary structure. On whether they are willing to absorb the cost is up to the organisations,” he said.
He added that various consumers associations have called for the abolishment of the service charge, with the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) and Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) urging for it to be scrapped.
Alias added that he will chair a meeting next Monday with other agencies, consumers associations, unions and associations from hotels and the food and beverages industry to discuss the issue.
“We hope to find a solution from that meeting with the stakeholders, or come up with a fresh view on this matter.
“We do not want to make a unilateral decision without first engaging with all parties," he said.

2573) UTUSAN MALAYSIA - 16/04/15 - Dakwaan MEF Dipertikai


Sumber : http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/dakwaan-mef-dipertikai-1.81454

2572) UTUSAN MALAYSIA - 16/04/15 - Wajar Mansuh Caj Perkhidmatan



Sumber : http://www.utusan.com.my/rencana/wajar-mansuh-8232-caj-perkhidmatan-1.81460

2571) Aktivis PPIM Berjaya Mendamaikan Pasangan Suami Isteri Bermasalah

Sessi perbincangan yang berjaya mendamaikan pasangan terbabit disaksikan kaum keluarga mereka.
SEBAGAIMANA disebut dalam Al Quran bahawa Allah SWT menjadikan setiap manusia itu berpasang-pasangan. Tetapi bila, di mana dan siapa pasangan yang akan kita temui hanya Allah yang mengetahui.

Sebelum ini, Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) menerima aduan dari seorang wanita yang mengadu mengenai permasalahan yang dihadapi dengan suaminya.

Bertindak dari aduan tersebut, Ketua Aktivis PPIM, Dato Paduka Nadzim Johan telah mengambil inisiatif segera bagi mendamaikan pasangan terbabit untuk mengelakkan berlakunya penceraian.

Ustaz Halim dari PPIM, (baju hitam) menjalankan sessi kaunseling kepada pasangan terbabit
Ini kerana ketika wanita terbabit mengadu, beliau bertekad untuk menuntut fasakh kerana tidak tahan dengan sikap suaminya yang panas baran. 

Namun hasil usaha dan kaunseling bersama aktivis PPIM, wanita terbabit membatalkan hasrat beliau setelah suaminya berjanji untuk berubah dan tidak mengulangi tabiat buruknya.

Sebelum mendamaikan pasangan terbabit dengan disaksikan sendiri oleh ahli keluarga mereka, Ustaz Halim yang berpengalaman dalam menguruskan pasangan bermasalah turut menyampaikan tazkirah mengenai kehidupan berumah tangga yang diamalkan oleh junjungan besar Nabi Muhammad S.A.W.

Pasangan terbabit berjaya didamaikan selepas sejam sessi perbincangan dijalankan.

Selain didatangi mangsa ah long, penipuan gores menang, dan mangsa penipuan sindiket tertentu, kemelut rumah tangga antara permasalahan yang turut diadukan kepada Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM).

Inilah realiti kehidupan, realiti dan permasalahan yang berlaku dalam masyarakat kita. - PPIM

2570) BERITA HARIAN - 16/04/15 - FOMCA, PPIM Gesa Laksana Gaji Minimum




2569) NEW STRAITS TIMES - 16/04/15 - Cheaper Broadband From June Onwards



Thursday, April 16, 2015

2568) THE SUN DAILY - 03/04/15 - Consumers Worried About Shady Traders

KUALA LUMPUR: The action by some traders to arbitrarily raise prices, including on items which are exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is causing public concern over the implementation of the tax.
Malaysian Consumer Protection and Welfare Board president, Datuk Seri Prof Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya said consumers were seen as not getting a clear impact of the GST but the brazen hiking of prices by traders was causing unease.
"As such, the government must increase monitoring and enforcement, especially at the outset of the implementation of GST to curb traders from taking advantage of the situation," he toldBernama.
He said supermarkets must also readily put up lists of goods which were taxable under GST to help consumers decide on the goods they intended to buy.
Saharuddin said consumers must view positively and back the GST which would bring good in the long term to the people and country, adding it was practised in developed nations.
Meanwhile, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said what was currently happening was that consumers had been frightened by certain quarters on the GST implementation.
"The tax should not be seen as having a big impact on consumers. Prices of goods go up and down, especially during festive seasons, which we are used to experiencing.
"We don't know if the impact is positive or negative. But as consumers, we must adjust ourselves to the conditions and take the best from the current situation," he said.
He said the actual grouse of consumers was the greed of traders who deliberately raised the prices of goods, adding that as consumers, they should know their rights by lodging a report if they felt cheated.
Meanwhile, economic analyst Datuk Prof Mohd Yusof said consumers needed six months to a year to get used to the GST and absorb it in their daily lives.
Mohd Yusof, who is also Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) Rector, said consumers must take advantage of its implementation to change their way of spending by only buying the goods they needed. – Bernama

2567) THE SUN DAILY - 01/04/15 - Press Digest: Govt urged to cancel GST on interbank ATM transaction charge

PETALING JAYA: The government was urged to cancel the goods and services tax (GST) imposed on automated teller machine (ATM) interbank transaction charges.
Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi said the new charge of RM1.06 could affect the consumers especially with the rising cost of living in the country.
He said the public had already paid several taxes and therefore it should be fine if the interbank cash withdrawal transaction system through ATM to be GST-exempt.
“The ATM service was provided to ease consumers to perform cash withdrawal transaction. However, the increase of transaction charge by 6% will burden consumers especially in areas with less ATM machines,” he said.
“The increase in charge will impact the livelihood of people in areas with few or lack of ATM facilities and therefore had to use the service of other banks,” he was quoted by Utusan Malaysiatoday.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the 6% charge imposed on the service was improper as it burdens the users.
He felt that banks will not suffer any loss for maintaining the previous charge as there are companies which did not impose GST on their services.
“I am disappointed with the attitude of certain parties for taking advantage to gain more profits with the GST implementation,” he said.

2566) THE SUN DAILY - 17/03/15 - ‘Please Don’t Tax MEPS Fees’

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) and the Coalition of Malaysian Muslim Consumers are urging Bank Negara and its associates, not to impose the 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the RM1 MEPS fee when one withdraws money from another bank’s ATM.
PPIM spokesman Datuk Nadzim Johan said the banks can bear the cost as a gesture to lighten the burden on consumers due to rising prices which will result from the implementation of the GST.
“We believe that business organisations such as banks can consider this as a corporate social responsibility after taking into account the billions of ringgit they have obtained from business opportunities or contracts that consumers have given them,” he said in a statement today.

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