Published on: Friday, April 13, 2007 |
Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA), Sabah branch is now known as a 'mini ministry' following a restructuring exercise early last year, to expand its roles and functions.
Disclosing this, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said the ministry now has comprehensive functions that cover not only law enforcement but also on educating consumers of their rights through awareness programmes.
"No matter how harsh the ministry's laws are to protecting the rights of consumers, these will not be effective if the society is not being educated about their rights as consumers.
"Therefore, the restructuring exercise was carried out last year to widen the scope of the ministry's functions here to be more extensive from reinforcing the law to creating awareness among consumers," he said.
Yahya, who is also Consumer Affairs and Community Development Minister, said this in his address at the launching of a state-level seminar on 'Rakan Pengguna' at Maksak Hall here on Thursday.
Also present were MDTCA Putrajaya Deputy Director (Consumer Affairs Division), Mohd Yassin Ahmad, MDTCA Sabah branch director, Jaafar Walad and Rakan Pengguna Sabah Chairperson, Datuk Amisah Yassin, who is also Political Secretary to the Youth and Sports Minister.
Through the restructuring exercise, Yahya said a Consumer Affairs Unit has been set up to carry out various consumerism programmes and activities in the State like seminars, talks, exhibitions and quizzes.
"To show serious concern by the State government on consumerism issues, the Sabah Consumers Affairs Council (MHEPNS) chaired by me has been given the task and responsibility to coordinate programmes and activities to educate the public on their rights as consumers.
"The Council will also continue to become the eyes and ears for the consumers, who are mostly unaware of their rights that can protect them from unethical trading, and expose them to relevant consumerism issues," he said.
As a start, Yahya said the one-day 'Rakan Pengguna' training seminar involving 350 participants is being held here.
He said the seminar is also a follow-up to the launching of Rakan Pengguna, previously known as 'Price Monitoring Volunteers', by the Prime Minister on July 27 last year.
Yahya said the 'Rakan Pengguna' was also a re-branding of the 'Price Monitoring Volunteers' under the restructuring exercise.
"Consumers normally would lament and express their grouses over the high pricing of necessities especially during celebrations. Following this, the ministry issues a list of 'Price Controlled Items' during festivals and celebrations to ensure prices of daily necessities are stable.
"Nonetheless, there are still traders violating trade provisions, for example failing to display price tags for controlled items. Therefore, the role of consumers is vital to assist the ministry's monitoring efforts," he said.
Yahya called on the public to register as Rakan Pengguna members to heighten the consumerism spirit in the State and assist the ministry to curb traders violating the law.
