Covid-19: Govt should allow pawnbrokers to resume operations — Marimuthu Nadason
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Tuesday, 21 Apr 2020 02:14 PM MYT
APRIL 21 — Clearly the Covid-19 movement control order (MCO) has affected everyone; with particularly severe impact on the poor and low income.
Loss of jobs and thus incomes, reduced incomes made worse by future uncertainties have had a severe negative impact on consumer financial and overall well-being.
To make matters worse, some retailers are manipulating prices and making excessive profits by increasing prices, making the life of the poor even more difficult.
Still consumers need money to feed their families, meet their obligations and meet other essential responsibilities.
Clearly the financial support by government to assist consumers to survive these difficult times is extremely limited. Firstly, many self-employed and daily wage workers are excluded.
Secondly, the one-off aid received is clearly insufficient to meet personal and household basic needs and consumers have to find their own means to raise cash to meet their basic obligations.
Read more: Covid-19: Govt should allow pawnbrokers to resume operations — Marimuthu Nadason
Give tenants 50% discount on rent, says consumer group
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April 21, 2020
PETALING JAYA: A consumer group has urged the authorities to draw up clearer guidelines for landlords on collection of rent from tenants.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations president Marimuthu Nadason said houseowners had been given a 6 month moratorium on housing loans and landlords should extend the same benefit to tenants.
He called for “at least 50% discounts in rent for three months” because the people had to live in uncertain times.
He urged the government to make a clear stand on such policies instead of leaving it up to the goodwill of the landlord.
Marimuthu said many employers might announce job cuts once the movement control order is lifted.
Read more: Give tenants 50% discount on rent, says consumer group
Heed health ministry advice on disinfection, groups urge Mydin
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April 19, 2020
PETALING JAYA: Two consumer groups have asked the Mydin chain of hypermarkets to follow the advice of the health ministry on its disinfection process as “it is better to be safe than to face any health consequences later”.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) president Paul Selvaraj said the company should only use disinfectants confirmed by the ministry to be safe.
“At this point, it is best to listen to expert advice from the ministry,” he told FMT, adding that it was possible the disinfectants could have some negative effect on people.
Last week, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that spraying an individual with chemicals for 30 seconds was not enough to effectively disinfect the person.
Read more: Heed health ministry advice on disinfection, groups urge Mydin
Mavcom slammed for failing to protect consumers
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April 17, 2020
PETALING JAYA: Two consumer groups have denounced the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) for deciding to be lenient with airlines unable to meet the regulatory deadline in giving refunds to would-be passengers booked on flights that have been cancelled.
Speaking to FMT, spokesmen for the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) and the Malaysia Consumer Movement (MCM) accused the commission of siding with the airline industry at the expense of consumers.
Covid-19 moratorium: Banks need to communicate with their customers — Fomca
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Thursday, 16 Apr 2020 05:30 PM MYT
APRIL 16 — Our nation is facing a pandemic which is creating animosity among families and is mounting daily. Companies and SMEs are closing down with workers taking pay cuts or receiving no pay, while the self-employed are finding it hard to sustain their families. All these are due do the Covid-19 and the movement control order (MCO) which has been extended further.
The government came up with stimulus package to assist those badly hit by the MCO. Banks also came up with their assistance programme to consumers by declaring a moratorium of 6 months payments on loans to enquire or clarify their issues.
Read more: Covid-19 moratorium: Banks need to communicate with their customers — Fomca
Energy savvy consumers will benefit from Prihatin stimulus package — Fomca
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Wednesday, 15 Apr 2020 10:01 PM MYT
APRIL 15 — In conjunction with the current world crisis which is the rise of Covid-19, the government has come up with various stimulus package to ease the burden of consumers and industries alike.
Today, we will be discussing how energy plays a role in the stimulus package and how consumers can make use of this package to its uttermost.
For those who are not aware, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that through the Prihatin package, households that use less than 200 kilowatts would be given a discount of 50 per cent , 25 per cent for usage in between 201 kilowatts to 300 kilowatts and finally 15 per cent reduction for consumptions in between 301 kilowatts and 600 kilowatts.
Read more: Energy savvy consumers will benefit from Prihatin stimulus package — Fomca
Be energy savvy
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16 Apr 2020
ENERGY efficiency and energy conservation might sound similar, however, there is a huge difference even though both achieve the same goal.
Energy efficiency refers to the usage of energy-efficient products such as LED bulbs and electrical appliances with 5-star energy rating.
On the other hand, energy conservation refers to the reduction of electricity usage without having to change any energy appliances at home. This is especially handy during the MCO since we are advised not to go out thus changing to energy-efficient products would be harder given that we can’t move around freely and it would be difficult to find an open hardware shop.
Loan payment deferrals, tax refunds most welcome to blunt impact of Covid-19 outbreak
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27 Mar 2020
PETALING JAYA: For many Malaysians who are financially affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, the six-month moratorium on loan repayments and income tax refunds could not have come any sooner.
They see this as a timely financial boost to help them get through each day and make ends meet.
Such is the case for E. Shaevitharoopan, a 31-year-old e-hailing driver who has temporarily taken a break from his job due to reduced customers and fear of contracting the virus from passengers, which could put his family of four at risk.
The family now relies solely on his wife’s salary as an office manager. With car and housing loans to be paid and two children to feed, this is almost impossible.
Read more: Loan payment deferrals, tax refunds most welcome to blunt impact of Covid-19 outbreak
Private hospitals urged to provide more assistance to govt hospitals
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25 Mar 2020
PETALING JAYA: Private hospitals are asked to put profits aside for now and in the name of service, support the Health Ministry in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) CEO Datuk Dr Paul Selvaraj said in this time of crisis, private hospitals, especially those run by government-linked companies, should give their utmost to assist the government given that public hospitals are called to treat the rising number of Covid-19 patients.
“Put service as priority and put aside profits for now,“ he told theSun today.
Read more: Private hospitals urged to provide more assistance to govt hospitals
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National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) Office Temporary Closed due to MCO
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