42 % MALAYSIAN CONSUMERS NOT AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS

SOME 42 per cent of consumers in the country are not aware of their rights, including in claiming damages through the consumer claims tribunal, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
He said the percentage was obtained during a study involving 5,000 respondents last year.

• "Based on the study, they have no idea on their rights nor the avenue for redress should their rights are infringed," he told a news conferencehere yesterday.
• On the consumer claims tribunal, he said, many respondents were not aware that they only need to pay RM5 ($2.1) to open a case with the tribunal and that they also need not appoint a lawyer to handle the case.
• There are 23 consumer claims tribunals nationwide with seven new ones in the pipeline including one each in Selangor, Sabah and Pahang.
• He said consumers should utilise the facility provided by the tribunal.
• "Last year 6,491 cases were brought up nationwide, with 97.17 having been settled," he said.
• Of the total, 44 per cent were solved through withdrawal of complaints after both sides agreed to settle their cases outside the tribunal, 32.83 per cent through awards after the complainantss won cases and 3.07 per cent rejected.
• He said each case brought to the tribunal would need about 45 days to dispose of.

Source: Bernama