Federation of Malaysians Consumers Associations

COMMENT | Curbing healthcare insurance prices

2025-01-22T23:40:38+00:00

Jan 18, 2025 12:00 PM

SOTHI RACHAGAN is an emeritus professor who is a formerdean of the faculty of law of Universiti Malaya; vice-chancellor of Perdana University and Nilai University, and president of theInternational Association of Consumer Law. He serves onnumerous international consumer protection bodies.

COMMENT | Healthcare and insurance are essential services and should not be treated as ordinary businesses. This is particularly true for healthcare insurance. The announcement of healthcare insurance premiums increasing by 40-70 percent has understandably alarmed consumers.

In response, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) introduced a series of immediate measures to ensure continued access to healthcare insurance and address rising medical costs (Interim Measures to Assist Policyholders and Promote Continued Access to Suitable Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful Products, Dec 20, 2024).

These interim measures are a positive step forward. However, they lack provisions for transparency and accountability from insurers and the regulator, BNM. Transparency and accountability are critical to fostering consumer trust.

Key metrics for insurer performance
Several key metrics can help consumers evaluate insurerperformance and enable regulators to monitor the industry’s health.
> Claims ratio: The ratio of claims paid out to premiumsreceived.
> Loss ratio: The ratio of claims and adjustment expenses(including claim investigation and verification costs) topremiums received.
> Claims settlement ratio: The proportion of claims settledagainst total claims filed (both in number and value). Thisratio allows buyers to compare insurers and choose themost reliable provider.
> Expense ratio: The proportion of expenses incurred inacquiring, underwriting, and servicing premiums relativeto premiums earned, reflecting an insurer’s operationalefficiency before factoring in policy claims and investmentgains or losses.

COMMENT | Curbing healthcare insurance prices

2025-01-22T23:40:36+00:00

Jan 18, 2025 12:00 PM

Kebajikan golongan miskin tegar terus terbela menerusi rebat elektrik

2023-10-19T00:18:27+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Kebajikan golongan miskin tegar di negara ini terus menjadi keutamaan kerajaan menerusi pemberian rebat elektrik sehingga RM40 sebulan kepada golongan itu seperti pengumuman Belanjawan 2024, Jumaat lepas.

Pemberian rebat itu dilihat mampu mengurangkan bebanan kos sara hidup yang tinggi ketika ini sekali gus menunjukkan keprihatinan kerajaan dalam membela nasib golongan miskin tegar di negara ini.

Suri rumah Diana Lokman, 40, berkata langkah kerajaan meneruskan pemberian rebat elektrik itu memperlihatkan usaha berterusan kerajaan meringankan beban rakyat terutamanya golongan susah dan bekeperluan untuk mendapat bantuan manfaat yang terus kepada golongan sasar.

"Jadi dengan pemberian rebat ini, bil bulanan yang saya perlu bayar hanya sekitar RM15 atau kurang daripada itu kerana penggunaan bulanan biasanya sekitar RM50, saya tidak gunakan penyaman udara atau penapis air elektrik dan sebagainya," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama pada Rabu.

Guna ID cetus pelbagai persoalan

2023-10-02T23:59:57+00:00

SHAH ALAM - Kaedah pembelian minyak masak peket bersubsidi menggunakan pengenalan diri (ID) khas yang bakal dilaksanakan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) tahun depan disifatkan tidak komprehensif dan mengelirukan.

Penganalisis Ekonomi Universiti Kewangan Islam Global (INCEIF), Profesor Dr Baharom Abdul Hamid menyifatkan idea tersebut menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan selain sukar untuk dilaksanakan.

“Jadi siapa nak kawal di peringkat runcit? Apa yang menghalang pembeli menjual semula pada harga yang lebih tinggi?

“Apa had kelayakan untuk penggunaan ID ini nanti. Adakah mengikut pendapatan? Sekiranya gaji suami dalam golongan berpendapatan tinggi (T20), tapi suruh isteri yang suri rumah atau anak yang beli, macam mana pula,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.

Sebelum ini Timbalan Menteri KPDN, Fuziah Salleh memberitahu kaedah pembelian minyak masak peket kepada kumpulan sasar yang bakal dilaksanakan pada 2024 akan menggunakan mekanisme ID dan telah disahkan layak.

Consumers to tighten belts over rising prices

2023-09-06T23:38:06+00:00

PETALING JAYA: Many Malaysian households are now indulging in mutton only occasionally due to the high prices these days.

“As Indians, we love mutton. But it’s costly these days, so I would buy it only once in a while,” said content manager, A. Siva, 42.

He said the price was usually about RM50 per kg, but it could go up to RM70, especially during Deepavali when the demand is high. At one point during the movement control order, he said the price even went up to RM83 per kg at a local market in his Subang Jaya neighbourhood, which he described as “shocking”.

To him, he felt that the price was rather arbitrary as the trader did not put it up on a price board. However, Siva acknowledged that prices for local mutton had always been higher than those imported from Australia or New Zealand.

“Local mutton is never frozen and there is a variation in terms of taste,” he said, adding that his family would opt for local or imported ones, depending on the need and occasion.

Homemaker Fazilah Kamal, 31, would only buy fresh mutton from the wet markets as she finds it more tender. It also takes less time to cook.

She said the average cost of lamb was around RM37 to RM40 per kg, but chops and shoulders were even more expensive as they tend to have more meat.

TAHNIAH DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM PM-10

2022-11-24T02:40:11+00:00

Tahniah diucapkan kepada Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri Ke-10.

#AnwarIbrahim
#PM10
#hakpengguna
#tanganikossarahidup
#FOMCA

PROGRAM LATIHAN INDUSTRI/INTERNSHIP 2022

2022-08-03T00:14:47+00:00

TERBUKA UNTUK PROGRAM LATIHAN INDUSTRI/INTERNSHIP

Kami daripada Gabungan Persatuan-persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) sedang mencari pelajar Diploma atau Ijazah Sarjana Muda (Degree) yang ingin menyertai kami sebagai pelajar internship/latihan industri sepanjang tahun 2022.

Dalam bidang :
- BUSINESS ADMIN
- BUSINESS MANAGEMENT/MARKETING
- CREATIVE MULTIMEDIA
- ACCOUNT

atau bidang-bidang yang berkaitan boleh juga cuba untuk memohon.

✅ Elaun Latihan turut disertakan.

📍 Tempat bekerja: SS1/22A, Kampung Tunku, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

📧 Sekiranya berminat, sila hantarkan resume anda ke email: mco@fomca.org.my

Sekiranya terdapat sebarang pertanyaan boleh hubungi kami di talian 03- 7876 4648 atau whatsapp kami di talian 011- 5920 0902

PELUANG PROGRAM LATIHAN INDUSTRI/INTERNSHIP TERBUKA

2022-08-03T00:06:51+00:00

TERBUKA UNTUK PROGRAM LATIHAN INDUSTRI/INTERNSHIP

Dalam bidang :
- BUSINESS ADMIN
- BUSINESS MANAGEMENT/MARKETING
- CREATIVE MULTIMEDIA
- ACCOUNT

atau bidang-bidang yang berkaitan boleh juga cuba untuk memohon.

✅ Elaun Latihan turut disertakan.

📍 Tempat bekerja: SS1/22A, Kampung Tunku, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

📧 Sekiranya berminat, sila hantarkan resume anda ke email: mco@fomca.org.my

Sekiranya terdapat sebarang pertanyaan boleh hubungi kami di talian 03- 7876 4648 atau whatsapp kami di talian 011- 5920 0902

SC probes rings that cheated investors of RM7mil

2021-03-31T18:39:31+00:00

1 April 2021
PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is investigating a syndicate suspected of running unlicensed investment schemes promising high returns to prospective investors.

In a statement today, the SC said the syndicate was being investigated for alleged offences under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.

It said SC officers raided several of the syndicate’s locations in Kuala Lumpur recently, confiscating their records and devices. Their servers were also shut down.

According to the statement, the syndicate, which also runs two clone firm schemes promising high returns in a short period of time, was believed to have duped hundreds of investors of over RM7 million.

Initial investigations show that the syndicate had been operating the unlicensed schemes since 2016.

SC identified these schemes as:

Domestic violence at crisis level months after lockdown

2020-11-24T19:14:07+00:00

November 25, 2020 9:58 AM
PETALING JAYA: Newly-wed ‘Nellie’ jumped from the balcony of her first floor flat at 3.30am to escape her abusive husband, one week into their marriage.

The 21-year-old emotionally and physically battered bride required surgery, having suffered multiple fractures on four toes in the fall.

She was forced by her family into an arranged marriage on March 14, four days before the movement control order (MCO) was enforced in Malaysia because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

On the first day of the MCO, her husband began beating her. He threatened to hunt ‘Nellie’ and kill her if she tried to flee.

‘Nellie’ was recently discharged from the hospital and is at a Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) shelter where she is being assisted with case management.

The story of ‘Nellie’ paints a bleak picture of life for women for whom the lockdown of fear and abuse has intensified.

The Covid-19 crisis seems to have brought out the worst of human behaviour with reports of violent offences lighting up helplines.

Insurance agent loses RM22,000 in job scam

2020-09-30T01:12:35+00:00

September 30, 2020 @ 12:41pm
KUANTAN: All a 26-year-old insurance agent wanted was to apply for a job posted on Facebook but instead he received a strange request to provide his bank account details.

Unperturbed by the demand, the man obliged and the move proved costly as he ended up losing RM22,000 of his savings.

In the incident on Sept 17, the victim noticed a job vacancy post on Facebook and sent a message to a number written on the advertisement to gather details about the job.

Pahang Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Superintendent Mohd Wazir Mohd Yusof said after some time, the victim received a text message requesting a copy of his MyKad and bank account details.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2020/09/628478/insurance-agent-loses-rm22000-job-scam

MOH: Stop Using Your Hand For Temperature Scans. Use Your Head

2020-09-29T23:26:34+00:00

29 Sep 2020, 06:06 PM
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is again advising the public not to use their hands or any body part other than the forehead to scan their temperatures

According to Harian Metro, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the ministry discouraged people from recording their body temperatures by pointing the 'temperature gun' at the wrist, which he noted many have been doing lately.

He stressed that the most accurate body temperature readings are obtained from scanning the forehead

"The temperature reading from body parts other than the forehead is doubtful, so in relation to that, the public is advised to stop using their hands or other body parts," he explained.

According to Seattle Children's Hospital, a person's clinical body temperature is normally measured at the forehead, ears, mouth, armpit, or rectum.

Rectal temperatures are the most accurate but are the most invasive, which is why doctors opt for next best screening area - the temporal artery in the forehead.

Consumer Rights

2020-09-22T22:55:55+00:00

Consumer Rights

Pesara guru rugi RM1.07 juta diperdaya Macau Scam

2020-07-27T17:25:52+00:00

Isnin, 27 Julai 2020 | 4:19pm
PETALING JAYA: Seorang pesara guru wanita berusia 71 tahun, kerugian RM1.07 juta selepas dipercayai menjadi mangsa penipuan sindiket Macau Scam.

Mangsa mula menjadi sasaran selepas menerima satu panggilan daripada individu mendakwa petugas 'Pos Laju Malaysia' memaklumkan ada satu bungkusan dihantar dari Kepong ke Sabah mengandungi kad pengenalan atas nama mangsa, pada 25 Mei lalu.

Panggilan itu kemudian disambungkan pula kepada seorang lelaki lain mendakwa sebagai anggota polis berpangkat sarjan bernama 'Chong Sin Hadari'.

Ketua Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya, Asisten Komisioner Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal, berkata suspek mendakwa bertugas di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial, Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Sabah.

"Mangsa diberitahu dia terbabit dengan sindiket kegiatan pengubahan wang haram dan butiran peribadinya kononnya digunakan seorang lelaki yang juga bekas pengurus bank yang sudah pun ditangkap.

Loan payment: Fomca urges employees affected by pay cuts to speak with their banks

2020-07-09T04:36:52+00:00

09 JUL 2020 / 15:36 H.

PETALING JAYA: Employees who are affected by salary cuts or retrenchment and need to service their loan repayments, are advised to liaise with their banks.

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has urged these individuals to engage with their banks now instead of waiting until September, when the moratorium period ends.

“If you have genuine concerns about not being able to make the payments after Sept 30, contact the bank as soon as possible to explain your situation and seek to re-negotiate your loan. Negotiate honestly to find the best way forward,” Fomca’s president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said in a statement today.

For those servicing multiple loans with various banks, he suggests contacting the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) for assistance.

The Star : STOP ALL CHANCES OF SOCIAL ILLS AFFLICTING RAKYAT, Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, Coordinator, Tobacco Control, FOMCA

2019-11-03T18:44:33+00:00

KOSMO : Ibu bapa perlu peka IPU jerebu

2019-09-22T20:56:19+00:00

SUDAH hampir dua minggu negara dilanda jerebu. Menurut Jabatan Alam Sekitar, kebakaran hutan di Sumatera dan Kalimantan, Indonesia menyebabkan jerebu merentas sempadan dan memberi kesan kepada peningkatan bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di semua kawasan di sepanjang pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia dan barat Sarawak.Kebakaran belukar bagi tujuan pertanian di beberapa kawasan antaranya di Johan Setia, Klang, Selangor memburukkan lagi keadaan.Untuk rekod, bacaan IPU antara 0 hingga 50 dikategorikan baik, 51 hingga 100 (sederhana), 101 hingga 200 (tidak sihat), 210 hingga 300 (sangat tidak sihat) manakala 300 ke atas berbahaya.Ketua Perkhidmatan Oftamalogi Kementerian Kesihatan, Dr. Nor Fariza Ngah berkata, jumlah pesakit bagi kes berkaitan konjunktivitis (mata) meningkat 20 hingga 30 peratus di 42 hospital kerajaan seluruh negara kesan jerebu.

Beliau menasihatkan orang ramai mengurangkan aktiviti luar rumah yang boleh memberi kesan kesihatan terutama mereka yang menghidap asma.Peningkatan IPU ini turut menjejaskan sesi persekolahan di kawasan yang terlibat apabila terpaksa ditutup bagi mengelakkan kesihatan pelajar terjejas. Antara negeri yang terlibat dengan penutupan sekolah ini ialah Sarawak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pulau Pinang dan Kedah serta Putrajaya.Mengikut pekeliling Kementerian Pendidikan, sekiranya bacaan IPU melebihi 100, pihak sekolah hendaklah menghentikan semua aktiviti luar bilik darjah. Jika bacaan 200, semua sekolah yang berada dalam kawasan atau daerah hendaklah ditutup serta-merta. Jabatan pendidikan negeri di seluruh negara mempunyai kuasa mengikut prosedur operasi standard masing-masing untuk mengarahkan penutupan sekolah jika kawasan mereka dilanda jerebu teruk.

INSURANCE INDUSTRY ISSUE

2019-09-09T19:14:12+00:00

Pharmacist finds fake Panadol being sold in Malaysia –

2019-08-26T19:58:32+00:00

A Malaysian pharmacist is warning consumers that there are fake versions of paracetamol product Panadol being sold, after he came across a fake version of the popular medicine in the country.

Zeff Tan, who hails from Penang, said in an August 21 Facebook post that he had obtained the fake Panadol after receiving a tip-off from netizens on where to get them.

World of Buzz : 15 Rights You Should Know When You’re Confronted by the Police

2019-08-06T22:43:33+00:00

1. If he’s not in uniform, politely ask for identification.Every police officer has an authority card or also known as kad kuasa as proof that they’re legitimate. Remember, it’s quite common for a police officer who’s on duty on ground to be in plain clothes.If you need more clarification, ask them which balai polis they’re from.2. If the card is red, the officer does not have any authority over you.

A red police authority card means that this officer is suspended and they do not have any rights to hold you.
Blue card: the officer holds an inspector rank or above
Yellow: below the rank of an inspector
White: reserve police.
Here’s an example:

3. If the officer is uniformed, take note of his/her name and ID number.Every officer must have his name and ID number clearly shown.

COMPAREHERO: 6 langkah bijak mengelakkan diri dari membazir wang

2019-08-01T22:20:01+00:00

Kos sara hidup di negara kita masih berada di tahap yang tinggi walaupun tahap inflasinya rendah iaitu 1% pada tahun 2018. Dengan kenaikan kos hidup, kita sebagai pengguna perlulah mencari jalan yang bijak untuk menyaingi masa yang getir ini. Walaupun cara untuk menjimatkan wang adalah penting, namun kita perlu mencari jalan supaya tidak membazir wang dengan kaedah yang berhemah. Di antaranya ialah,

Jangan membeli sekadar untuk memuaskan nafsu membeli

Sering kali kita berkunjung ke pasar raya dan rasa teruja melihat barang barang yang dipamerkan. Ada kalanya kita tidak dapat menahan naluri dan terus membelinya yang menyebabkbkan pengguna membelanjakan wang berlebihan yang sepatutnya boleh dijadikan sebagai simpanan. Melainkan pengguna disahkan mengidap Oniomania (Compulsive Buying Disorder CBD) iaitu sejenis penyakit yang mempunyai ciri ciri untuk membeli belah, langkah yang paling baik adalah untuk melaburkan wang anda dalam sesuatu pelaburan yang sah yang memberikan pulangan yang baik.

Jangan membeli semata mata kerana barangan di jual musim jualan murah

Kebanyakan pasar raya mengadakan jualan murah semasa musim perayaan seperti Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Tahun Baru Cina, Deepavali, Christmas dan sebagainya. Di samping jualan ini, ada juga jualan akhir tahun. Kalau anda ingin membeli kerana bimbang akan kehabisan stok, jualan bermusim akan pasti tiba dan akan dapat membelinya sekiranya benar benar perlu.

The Star : BOOST FOR CONSUMER CREDIT LAW

2019-07-24T17:48:33+00:00

Ministry prioritises development of groundwater resources for water supply

2019-07-02T21:52:39+00:00

SHAH ALAM: Development of groundwater resources for water supply must be high on the national agenda, says Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.Speaking at the National Groundwater conference 2019 here, Xavier cited a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1982 which showed that Malaysia has groundwater reserves of five trillion cubic metres; of which 2.0 trillion cubic metres are in Peninsular Malaysia, 1.1 trillion cubic metres in Sabah and 1.9 trillion cubic metres in Sarawak.However, he said that due to the abundance of surface water in river systems, groundwater for irrigation use had not been much exploited except in North Kelantan and some parts of Sabah and Sarawak.

“It is estimated that groundwater constitutes less than 3% of the water supply in Malaysia, with the remainder sourced from surfaced water,“ he said.He compared local groundwater utilisation to that of other countries - Denmark has 100% utilisation, Austria 97%, Thailand 80%, China 78%, USA 50%.“Why is this the case for Malaysia? Groundwater resources in Malaysia face many serious problems that relate back to the absence of an adaptive and comprehensive management regime, research and development, manpower, human resources issues, resource data collection, public awareness and stakeholder participation,“said Xavier.He said that it may be necessary to revisit the National Water Resources Policy and the national need to meet future potable and irrigation water demands.“Any new water policy must take into consideration the use of groundwater and its integration into the water supply system,“ he said.

Profil FOMCA

2017-02-15T18:54:03+00:00

FOMCA adalah sebuah pertubuhan sukarela, tidak mementingkan keuntungan, bukan politik dan pertubuhan sivik. Ia menjadi payung bagi persatuan pengguna gabungannya. FOMCA bekerja rapat dengan kerajaan dan badan bukan kerajaan di peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa dalam memberikan maklumat, pendidikan dan perlindungan pengguna.

Keutamaannya bukan sahaja nilai untuk wang tetapi juga nilai untuk manusia. FOMCA berusaha untuk mempertingkatkan melalui kuasa beli pengguna, pembangunan berasaskan keperluan yang memastikan keadilan sosio-ekonomi dan alam sekitar bagi mendapatkan kualiti hidup yang lebih baik untuk semua Rakyat

Objektif FOMCA

FOMCA ditubuhkan dengan tujuan untuk mencapai objektif-objektif berikut:

Untuk memperkuatkan perkembangan pergerakan pengguna di Malaysia.
Meneliti isu-isu dan masalah pengguna dan berjuang untuk hak-hak pengguna.
Untuk berjuang menerusi kuasa beli pengguna demi mendapatkan satu orientasi pembangunan yang akan menjamin keadilan sosio ekonomi dan kualiti alam sekitar yang lebih baik bagi semua.
Menyelaras dan menjadi badan perunding bagi organisasi pengguna yang lain di Malaysia

Falsafah FOMCA

FOMCA bukan hanya sebuah pertubuhan pengguna, tetapi juga sebuah pertubuhan pembangunan. FOMCA inginkan mewujudkan keadaan-keadaan seperti berikut:

Mewujudkan sifat berdikasi di kalangan para pengguna iaitu " - "Perlindungan Paling Berkesan ialah Perlindungan Sendiri."
Mewujudkan pembangunan berorientasikan kepada menunaikan keperluan asas manusia melalui kuasa beli kita sebagai pengguna bagi mewujudkan satu kebudayaan hidup yang sesuai, bahagian dan tidak membazir.

Peranan FOMCA

Demi mencapai falsafah-falsafah di atas, FOMCA mengamalkan empat pendekatan penting iaitu:

Sebuah badan yang memberi dan menyebarkan maklumat.
Sebuah badan pendidik yang memberi pendidikan kepada semua pengguna.
Sebuah badan bertindak yang memberi perlindungan kepada pengguna.
Sebuah badan yang menyiasat, membuat kajian dan ujian untuk memperolehi maklumat yang benar

Dasar Kualiti & Alam Sekitar FOMCA

2017-02-14T18:41:26+00:00

Dasar Kualiti FOMCA

KAMI akan menjalankan operasi kami secara profesional dan praktikal untuk melindungi hak-hak pengguna; hak untuk membuat pilihan, hak untuk mendapatkan keselamatan, hak untuk mendapatkan maklumat, hak untuk bersuara, hak untuk mendapatkan ganti rugi, hak untuk mendapatkan alam sekitar yang sihat dan selamat, hak untuk mendapatkan keperluan asas, dan hak untuk mendapatkan pendidikan pengguna.

KAMI bukan hanya satu pertubuhan pengguna; tetapi juga sebuah pertubuhan pembangunan yang mempraktikkan tindakan seperti berikut:

Berkerjasama dengan kerajaan tetapi bukan untuk kerajaan
Berkerjasama dengan pengguna tetapi bukan untuk pengguna
Mengawal kaedah perniagaan yang mengeksploitasi dan tidak beretika tetapi bukan menentang kaedah perniagaan yang bertanggungjawab