Ensure effective enforcement to protect consumers

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on the relevant ministry and government agencies to be more proactive in enforcing the laws and regulations in order to protect consumers. He said in this effort, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry should play an important role in ensuring that the consumer-protection laws were fully enforced. Muhyiddin said he was displeased with the attitude of most traders who had still not adhered to the order and regulations requiring them to label and display the price tags of goods which, according to him, caused inconvenience to consumers when making choices in buying goods at reasonable prices. "The laws have been implemented but not fully enforced. So I think, in line with our move of monitoring prices to prevent customers from being cheated by the traders, these laws must be fully enforced. "We hope for this, but perhaps time needed be given to traders who have requested for more time through their associations and chambers of commerce. But after that, the laws must be fully enforced." He said this at a news conference after making a surprise check on prices of goods at Section 16, Bandar Baru Bangi, here, Monday. Also present was Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, Datuk Hasan Malek. Muhyiddin also suggested that the ministry relaunch the labelling and price tagging campaign, besides giving traders a grace period of two months to label and put price tags on their goods for sale. "Perhaps previously we had taken action but not comprehensively. This time after we've given them the grace period, they won't be able to find anymore excuses not to follow the order. I leave this effort to the ministry," he said. He said various measures had been and were being taken by the government in tackling price increases and in reducing the people's burden, including preparing a detailed report on the rising cost of living by Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit). "This report will be tabled at a meeting this Feb 5. Some areas have been focused on, including energy and fuel, food and beverage and services, transportation and toll. "We will look at these and other areas holistically," he said. Muhyiddin said the government always looked at and implement measures that could benefit consumers, besides ensuring that the economy remains strong.