SIBU: The National Consumer Foundation has urged the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) to set up a council to act as a bridge between consumers and the government.
Foundation president Datuk Mohd Firdaus Abdullah said the body could be named as ‘Sarawak Regional Consumer Movement Council’ to give better protection to consumers.
“In West Malaysia, such a council already exists but under a different name called Consumers Movement Council,” he said when met by reporters after the closing ceremony of the ‘Challenges of Consumers in Investment’ seminar here, on Thursday.
Mohd Firdaus also requested that a representatives from the foundation be placed in the council to look into the interest of consumers more effectively.
“We want our representatives in the council whereby our leaders can sit in along with government departments so we can clear matters which arise from the grassroots with the top-level involving consumerism. and environmental complaints for solutions.
“This council will act as a bridge between consumers and the government in Sarawak at state and district levels,” he said.
Firdaus also said that its previous requests which were made 10 years ago have been fulfilled by the federal government.
“Ten years ago, in Sibu when we were then known as Malaysian Consumers Association, we requested the then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to ensure that prices of goods in Sabah and Sarawak are the same as those in West Malaysia.
“This has been fulfilled as the government is bearing the transport cost of goods to the two states. Now you can see that prices of goods in Miri and Kapit are the same as those in Semenanjung,” he said.
Mohd Firdaus also said the requests that they made to the federal government to build a highway from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu are also being granted.
“At that time, goods have to be sent by air cargo, hence they are costlier. With the Pan Borneo Highway nearing completion, we can now send goods by road. This will benefit the people,” he said.
