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WHO IS A CONSUMER ?

The word "consumer" is a very dominant term and there are a wide range of definitions of the term. Nevertheless, there are serious flaws in the use of the term.

As a matter of fact, all of us are consumers. A consumer is a service or product recipient. A consumer is a person who needs, currently using or has used a particular service or product.

In the sense of product, a consumer is one who buys or agrees to buy any products for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised or under any system of deferred payment.

As for service, a consumer is one who makes use of or pays for any services which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised or under any system of deferred payment.

WHAT IS CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT AND WHY ?

The Malaysia's Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA) is an act which came into effect 1st October 1999.

It it a piece of legislation enacted with the main objective to provide greater protection for consumers.

The provisions of this act cover areas not covered by other existing laws. This act provides simple, inexpensive redressal to the consumer's grievances and relief of a specific nature.

Under this act, an aggrieved consumer may refer any dispute or claim of less then RM10,000 to the established Consumer Redressal Tribunal.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER ?

Under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, your rights granted cannot be taken away from you notwithstanding conditions in any agreement that you have signed.

As a consumer, you have the right to all the products and services of daily basic needs including food, clothing, health, education and house.

You are also protected from products, services and manufacturing processes that may expose your health and life to danger. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs may publish in the Gazette a list of products considered unsafe to be sold and may then require the suppliers or manufacturers of the prohibited products to either recall the products, stop the sale and advertisements of the products, disclose to the public information relating to the characteristics which make the products unsafe, repair or replace the products or refund the purchasers.

To make the right choice, you have the right to obtain accurate and precise facts about the product and service that you want to consume. You can only act in a wise and responsible way if you are equipped with enough information. A supplier and manufacturer are prohibited to use misleading and deceptive conduct, false misrepresentation and unfair claims in selling the product or service to you.

Nobody can force you to buy a product or service. You have the freedom in buying or assuring that the product or service you need is obtained through the right channels, based on the right price.

You have the right to claim for damages from unfair practices from the supplier or manufacturer.