Keningau: A majority of the credit card defaulters declared bankrupt are aged below 35 years.They could not control the use of such facilities, incurring huge debts and making them unable to make repayments, even on instalment basis.
Deputy Secretary-General in the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Khairuddin Mohd Sari, said it was surprising that those under 35 years were often declared bankrupts for defaulting payments of their credit cards, rather than banks and businessmen.
He also pointed out that a lot of money had been wasted from use of mobile phones among the younger generation, particularly students, without proper supervision.
Khairuddin said this while addressing a seminar on Consumer Awareness, organised by the district Consumer Affairs Council, at Juta Hotel, here.
On another note, he said the Ministry's enforcement personnel numbering 12 to 15 had been doing a good job in executing their duties despite a shortage of personnel. They had a wide area to cover in keeping tabs on the hundreds of traders and business premises against trade offences, he added.
In this respect, the consumers themselves must realise the role they have to play to alert the authorities concerned so that prompt action could be taken, he said.
Khairuddin said the consumers must also be aware of their rights and they could seek redress from dubious deals by seeking the assistance of the Consumer Tribunal for solutions.
The seminar was attended by heads of State and Federal Government departments, as well as secondary schools students in Keningau.
