FOMCA di pentas media 2014 - 2015

Beware: Dengue Fever on the Rise

2016-02-15T16:00:00+00:00

We all must be very concerned regarding the dengue issue. Despite it is a common issue, when it comes with El Nino, the number of dengue cases will increase greatly. The warm weather encourages mosquitoes to become more aggressive and its life cycle will become shorter than usual. In addition to that, the drought caused by El Nino forces people to store water to meet their daily need of water thus increasing the mosquito breeding areas.

Besides that, we also have an alert on Zika virus. Even though there are no cases in Malaysia yet, we still need to take precautions. A total of 18 481 dengue fever cases were recorded in Malaysia from January 3 until February 10. Selangor had the highest number of cases at 9,034 followed by Johor (2,827) and Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (1,145).

There are 2 types of aedes mosquito which are aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus which transmit the dengue virus. Both are aggressive during daytime. Aedes aegypti lives in a house together with humans, breeding under the rooftops, porches and hiding between the curtains while aedes albopictus stays outside the house and breed anywhere.

Generally, Aedes is active in the morning from 6.30 am to 8.30 am and in the evening from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. They can also be active at other times if the weather is favourable and the temperature is less than 28°C.

MEMORANDUM FOMCA KEPADA PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA

2015-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

PENURUNAN HARGA MINYAK DAN KESAN KE ATAS HARGA MAKANAN DAN BARANG KEPERLUAN PENGGUNA

Harga minyak dunia telah mengalami penurunan yang ketara. Harga setong pada bulan Jun 2014 sebanyak AS$115 telah turun kepada paras di bawah AS$60 setong pada Disember 2014.

Di Malaysia, sebagai usaha untuk mengurangkan subsidi ke arah ekonomi yang lebih mampan, kerajaan telah memansuhkan subsidi petrol dengan penetapan harganya berdasarkan sistem apungan terkawal.

Bagi mencerminkan keadaan harga minyak semasa, pada Januari 2015, harga RON95 telah diturunkan daripada RM2.26 kepada RM1.91, iaitu penurunan sebanyak 35 sen seliter; harga RON 97 dikurangkan daripada RM2.46 seliter kepada RM2.11 seliter, iaitu kurang 35 sen seliter; dan harga diesel pula daripada RM2.23 seliter kepada RM1.93, pengurangan sebanyak 30 sen. Penurunan harga yang agar besar ini sudah tentu memberi kesan kepada industri pengangkutan dan industri lain yang petroleum merupakan komponen kos utama.
Selain kesan langsung kepada industri berasaskan petroleum, dalam ekonomi yang lebih luas, penyusutan harga petroleum juga memberikan kesan berganda yang lebih besar lagi. Umpamanya, di negara Pertubuhan Kerjasama dan Pembangunan Ekonomi (OECD), harga tenaga meliputi lebih satu per tiga kos bagi pengeluaran bijirin. Begitu juga, harga petroleum mempengaruhi kos pengeluaran bagi barang pengguna lain. Oleh itu, penurunan harga petroleum yang ketara ini sepatutnya menjadikan merendahkan harga banyak barang pengguna, yang menjadikan harganya lebih murah untuk dibeli oleh pengguna, seterusnya mengurangkan perbelanjaan pengguna terhadap barangan tersebut.

Press Release - 10% Electricity Tariff Reduction and To Be Implemented Throughout 2015

2015-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

For Immediate Release

We welcome the decision on the reduction of electricity tariff by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA). However, FOMCA feels that the reduction of 2.25sen/kWh in Peninsular and 1.20sen/kWh in Labuan and Sabah, which is only about 5.8% from March 1 to June 30 2015 is insignificant.

We from FOMCA are actually looking at the 10% reduction on the average electricity tariff based on the current international fuel price and we are demanding the 10% reduction to be enforced throughout the year as 3 months implementation period is too short for us to see the impact and the for businesses to adapt. In order to see the actual savings for the rakyat, 3 months implementation period is insufficient.

We urge the government to reveal the current actual price to produce 1kWh of electricity based on the true cost and also how the 5.8% is being derived. We would also seek information on how much savings can be achieved by the consumer based on the current reduction and how much goods prices will reduce.

FOMCA has launched a petition to urge the government of Malaysia to further reduce the electricity tariff up to 10% and the reduction to be implemented throughout 2015. Our target is to achieve 1 million supporters in order to support our goal and to effectively bring down goods prices.

The link for the petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/energy-commission-of-malaysia-reduce-electricity-tariff-in-malaysia

JEMPUTAN MEDIA - AKTIVITI SEMPENA HARI HAK-HAK PENGGUNA SEDUNIA 2015. (WCRD 2015)

2015-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Consumers International (CI) ialah pergerakan persatuan antarabangsa yang memayungi semua persatuan pengguna di seluruh dunia. Pada setiap tahun, CI telah mengadakan sambutan Hari Hak-Hak Pengguna Sedunia pada 15 Mac. Pada tarikh tersebut, pelbagai acara dan aktiviti akan diadakan oleh persatuan pengguna yang bergabung dengan CI, berdasarkan tema yang telah ditetapkan.
Tema Hari Hak-Hak Pengguna Sedunia 2015 ialah “DIET YANG SIHAT”

Bersempena dengan tema (WCRD 2015) ini, FOMCA akan mengadakan aktiviti berkaitan diet yang sihat pada 14 mac di Pasar Raya Besar Giant Kelana Jaya.

Aktiviti ini melibatkan 15 orang kanak-kank berusia 7 tahun hingga 15 tahun. Kanak-kanak ini akan diberikan sejumlah wang yang digunakan untuk membeli makanan mereka suka untuk sarapan.

GST: Wajibkan label pada harga barang - FOMCA

2015-03-22T16:00:00+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Bagi memastikan pengguna tidak menjadi mangsa penipuan, kerajaan perlu mewajibkan peniaga melabelkan semua barangan sama ada yang dikenakan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) atau yang tidak.

Pengarah Komunikasi Kumpulan Gabungan Persatuan-persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, berkata label itu perlu diletakkan pada tanda harga yang dipamerkan.

"Ia untuk kemudahan pengguna, contohnya pada tanda harga setiap barangan yang dikenakan cukai itu harus diletakkan harga sebelum dan selepas GST," katanya ketika dihubungi.

Namun Mohd Yusof berkata, perkara mengenai GST bukan hanya terletak di bahu peniaga sebaliknya pengguna terlebih dahulu perlu merujuk kepada buku 'Panduan Harga Pengguna' yang telah diterbitkan Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia bersama Kementerian Kewangan.

Sebanyak dua juta naskah telah diedarkan sejak Januari lepas yang menyenaraikan 500 barangan terpilih yang dikenakan GST.

Buku itu boleh didapati di setiap pejabat negeri Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK).

Selain itu, Mohd Yusof berkata pengguna perlu membiasakan diri menyemak semula harga pada resit pembelian dengan harga yang ditetapkan di dalam buku itu.

Muat Turun Penerbitan - Siri Pemikiran 14 - GST dan Kesannya Kepada Pengguna

2015-03-23T16:00:00+00:00

GST - Kesannya Kepada Pengguna

GST - bukan penentu utama harga.
Pengguna perlu manfaat panduan beli-belah disedia kerajaan
Keputusan kerajaan untuk melaksanakan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) bermula 1 April 2015 menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi. Perkara yang membimbangkan orang ramai adalah kenaikan harga barang yang melampau. Bagaimana orang ramai patut menggunakan hak mereka apabila berdepan dengan peniaga yang mengambil kesempatan untuk menaikkan harga daripada paras sepatutnya? Ikuti temu bual wartawan BH, Mahanum Abdul Aziz dan Luqman Arif Abdul Karim bersama Setiausaha Agung Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Datuk Paul Selva Raj bagi mengupas persoalan ini.

Apakah perkara yang menjadi kebimbangan pengguna berikutan pelaksanaan GST?
Perkara pertama adalah kenaikan harga terutama di tengah-tengah suasana peningkatan kos sara hidup ketika ini. Ada dua jenis kenaikan harga berikutan pelaksanaan GST. Pertama, disebabkan GST dan kedua berikutan aktiviti pengambilan untung berlebihan. Kebimbangan kami adalah peniaga akan mengambil kesempatan menaikkan harga melebihi paras sepatutnya.
GST

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Muat Turun untuk maklumat lanjut


Siri Pemikiran 14 - GST dan Kesannya Kepada Pengguna.pdf (952.44 kB) http://bit.ly/1GNxFRo

FOMCA: Cab fare hike must be fair to all

2015-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

PETALING JAYA, March 19 — Any increase in taxi fares should be fair to both the drivers and consumers, said Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) president Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason.

“It is not the right time for an increase, but we have to understand fares have not been increased for years. Taxi drivers also need to survive because the cost of living is rising,” he said.

Marimuthu said, however, it was important that the new fares were not exorbitant.

A Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) spokesman said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) promised taxi services would improve once the fares were revised.

“SPAD said taxis in Penang will be forced to use meters and people can lodge complaints if they do not,” he said.

The spokesman said CAP was unhappy over the proposed increase but had accepted it and hoped the services would improve.

“From the consumers’ perspective, price is one of the issues. The other is the way drivers behave, and how they provide service. If you compare taxi fares in Penang and KL, prices in Penang are higher,” he said.

The spokesman said the service improvements needed to justify the fare increase.

Malay Mail had reported taxi fares were expected to increase by up to 40 per cent and SPAD was scheduled to announce the new fare structure this week.

Industry sources said the new rates for metered taxis would see an increase for flag-down fares, distance and time charges.

Among the proposed new rates in Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Baru would be RM3.30 for budget cabs (flag-down fare) and RM4.30 for budget cabs in Penang (flag-down fare) with 25 sen charged for every 200m or 30 seconds.

Current flag-down rates for budget taxis are RM3 for Klang Valley and Johor Baru and RM4 for Penang.

The current distance and time charges are 87 sen per km and 10 sen per 21 seconds respectively.

The new rates will see consumers paying RM1.25 per km.

Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the association supported the revision.

“I don’t know why it has taken so long as it has long been approved by the government,” he said.

Nadzim said the public had a misconception prices would be greatly affected when Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented next month.

“People think everything will increase, but taxi fares are something long overdue.

“This perception will need to be changed,” he said.

Malay Mail Online

GST Exemption For Books Should Boost Reading Habit Among Malaysians

2015-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- The government move to exempt Goods and Service Tax (GST) for books should boost the reading habit among Malaysians.

This means that the price of all reading materials will not be increased, said the Ministry of Finance in a statement today.

It added the GST exemption for medicine under the National Medicine List has been extended from 2,900 to 4,215 brands.

The GST exemption for maintenance fees and sinking fund for low cost and medium low cost houses covders all types of houses with strata titles.

GST was also exempted for vocational education, baby formula (0-36 months), all types of rice and all types of sugar.

Exemption from GST was also given to 120 types of medical equipment.

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) and religious institutions involved in welfare or religious activities were also exempted from GST.

BERNAMA

Tambahan 1,315 ubat dalam senarai bebas GST - Kastam

2015-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

PUTRAJAYA: Sebanyak 1,315 ubat tambahan dimasukkan dalam senarai bekalan yang dikenakan kadar sifar bagi Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST).
Penolong Pengarah Kanan II Bahagian GST Kastam, Norazura Hashim berkata, senarai awal sebelum ini hanya melibatkan 2,900 ubat dan jumlah keseluruhan kini sebanyak 4,215 ubat. Senarai penuh ubat yang dikecualikan cukai boleh didapati di laman web Jabatan Kastam.
"Tambahan ubat yang dikenakan cukai kadar sifar diluluskan baharu ini selepas ia dibangkitkan oleh pihak berkuasa berkaitan," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada para pemberita semasa taklimat khas berkaitan kesihatan dan GST di sini, Khamis.

MSTAR

No Access For Heavy Vehicles On Jalan Rasah From April 1

2015-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- Starting April 1, all heavy vehicles exceeding 4.4 metre in height heading to Port Dickson and Seremban, are advised not to use Jalan Rasah.

Instead, heavy vehicles from Port Dickson toll plaza (South) and Rasah heading towards Port Dickson were required to use the Taman Thivy Jaya-Taman Rasah Jaya-Seremban 3 route.

Projek Lebuhraya Usahasama Berhad (PLUS) in a statement here today said the alternative route was activated to facilitate the construction of the bridge in the area which was part of the fourth lane widening work on the North-South Expressway.

PLUS also advised all heavy vehicle drivers to follow all traffic signages and regulations when plying the alternative route.

PLUS also informed that three rest and service (R&R) areas and lay-bys on the North-South Expressway would be temporarily closed for maintenance work from tomorrow until Thursday.

Tomorrow, the northbound Rawang R&R at KM440 would be closed from 9 am to 6 pm, while on Wednesday, the southbound Seremban R&R at KM274.4 would be closed from 8.30 am to 7 pm.

All facilities except the public restrooms, surau and petrol station at the southbound Taiping Lay-by at KM212.6 would be closed from 8 am to 5 pm.

On Thursday, the northbound Seremban R&R at KM272.2 would be closed from 8.30 am to 7 pm and the northbound Taiping lay-by at KM213 to be closed from 8 am until 5 pm.

Meanwhile, Sistem Lingkaran-Lebuhraya Kajang Sdn Bhd (SILK) said that underpass access from Jalan Maklumat to Gate 13 and Gate 33 of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) at Lebuh Silikon would be closed from tomorrow until March 31.

The closure was due to the widening of the underpass which was part of SILK's Highway upgrading project.

All motorists were advised to use UPM's main entrance to UPM main campus.

BERNAMA