World Consumer Rights Day (15th March)

Theme : 'Consumer Justice Now!'

The day has its origin in former US President John F. Kennedy’s declaration of four basic consumer rights in his 15th March 1962 special message to the US Congress such as: Right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose and right to be heard. ”Consumers by definition, include us all,” Kennedy said in his declaration to the US Congress.

To these four basic rights, Consumers International added four more rights: right to satisfaction of basic needs, right to redress, right to education and right to a healthy environment. World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on 15th March, 1983. Two years later, on 9th April 1985, the United Nations general assembly adopted the UN guidelines for consumer protection. and approved the idea to declare March 15 World Consumer Rights Day. The consumer movement now marks 15 March every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights.

Whether it is faulty products causing injury, utility service providers ignoring complaints, or irresponsible lending by banks, better consumer protection is always part of the solution.

Good consumer protection is not just about legislation, it can deliver justice, create a fairer society and even save lives.

Consumerism Exhibition (One Utama, May 15 ~ May 19 )

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) will celebrate its founding anniversary on the 40th of this year.

In conjunction with the anniversary of the founding FOMCA 40th this year, one of the programs that have been planned for Consumer Fair is scheduled for May 15 to May 19, 2013, at the Old Wing Centre Court, One Utama Shopping Mall, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.

The public is invited to visit the exhibition organized by the suggestion in Consumerism 15th May until 19th May 2013 located at the shopping center One Utama, Bandar Utama. Various activities and material consumption awaits. Show time is from 10am to 10pm.

The objective of this exhibition is to :
◾ increase awareness and education on consumer issues
◾ Awaken consumers about the role of the consumer movement toward consumer protection and welfare
◾ Recognizing their rights and responsibilities as consumers

It is hoped that through this exhibition, more consumers can increase their awareness of consumer issues and adopt a smart consumer.

4 Basic Rights of Consumers ☑ ✓ ✔ √

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HELLO everyone ^^ This time I'll add in some pictures to make it more interesting ~ Enjoy >-<

 

The Right to Safety

• Defense of consumers against injuries caused by products other than automobile vehicles
• Implies that products should cause no harm to their users if such use is executed as prescribed

The Right to Be Informed

• Businesses should always provide consumers with enough appropriate information 
• Product information provided by a business should always be complete and truthful
• Achieve protection against misleading information in the areas of financing, advertising, labeling, and packaging,

 

 

 

The Right to Choose

• Consumers should have a variety of options provided by different companies from which to choose

 

The Right to Be Heard

• Ability of consumers to voice complaints and concerns about a product 
• Outlets exist to aid consumers if difficulty occurs in communication with an aggrieving party

Consumer Associations of FOMCA ^...^

 

 

In Malaysia, consumer associations at state levels have to be established before they form the federation. The first four states consumers associations which carries out their respective consumer related activities are:

• Januari 1965      -   Selangor Consumer Association (SCA)
• November 1969  -   Consumer Association of Penang (CAP)
• Februari 1971    -   Consumer Association of Sarawak (CAS)
• Mac 1971            -   Consumer Association of Negeri Sembilan  (CANS)

In April 1971, a meeting held in Cameron Highlands to discuss a need to have a federation. CAP was given the honour to hold a second meeting in Pulau Pinang on Jun 1971 for final discussion on formation of a federation but it has been a failure.

 Three more consumer association has been formed, as follows:

• Julai 1971 -  Consumer Association of Kedah (CAKE)
• Mac 1972  -  Perak Consumers Association (PCA)
• May 1972  - Consumer Associations of Malacca (CAM)

Another discussion took place also to discuss about formation of a federation. Every party has agreed to form a flexible federal without the consumer associations loosing their autonomy power. Finally, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations or its acronym, (FOMCA) which was founded on 10th June 1973 in Alor Setar, Kedah .After FOMCA established, state consumer organization which has been formed are:
 

• Julai 1973  -   Johore Consumers Associations (JCA)
• Ogos 1973  -   Kelantan Consumers Associations (JCA)
• Nov 1973   -   Pahang Consumers Associations (PAC)
• Jun 1976   -   Terengganu Consumers Associations (PTR)
• Ogos 1980  -  Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (CASH)

FOMCA formed through the merger of state consumer organizations on June 10, 1973 in Alor Setar, Kedah. This combination  become loose federation without loss of autonomy by the state consumer associations. FOMCA also joined the International Consumer Organization ( Consumers International ), which comprises more than 230 consumer organizations.

National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC)

If you have any complaints or any queries regarding any complaints, please visit National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) www.nccc.org.my. You can send any type of complaints to NCCC.

The National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) was officiated by Datuk Hj. Mohd Shafie Hj. Apdal, Minister of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs on 13 July, 2004.

It was initiated jointly by the Education and Research Association for Consumers (ERA Consumers), Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Consumer Association and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

 

 

NCCC functions as a one stop centre to :

 

•  help consumers with their problems and complaints
•  ensuring that complaints are forwarded to relevant authorities 
•  solutions are obtained
• acting as a go-between consumers and enterprises in settling disputes.

Users have certain responsibilities ! ※ !

 Awareness to criticize

Users must have the awareness to criticize in case of any misuse or abuse of the rights of consumers.


Involvement and action


Users must be involved and take appropriate action to ensure the rights of consumers treated fairly.


Social responsibility

 Consumers must act with responsibility and awareness of the community so that the actions taken do not pose greater difficulties.

Consumer RIGHTS ✓✓✓

• The right to satisfaction of basic needs

 

- To have access to basic, essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation.

• The right to safety

- To be protected against products, production processes and services that are hazardous to health or life.

• The right to be informed

- To be given the facts needed to make an informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labelling.

• The right to choose

 - To be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.

• The right to be heard

- To have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.

 

• The right to redress

- To receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.

• The right to consumer education

 - To acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.

 

• The right to a healthy environment

-To live and work in an environment that is non-threatening to the well-being of present and future generations.

Better monitoring of ONLINE PURCHASING

Online Purchasing / E-Shopping

 There has to be a more secure and established mechanism to oversee the process of online purchasing as more people turn to e-shopping for their needs.
 
With the growing popularity of e-shopping and deal sites, mechanism would need to be put in place to ensure the authenticity of these dealers.
 
“More and more deal sites are popping up. There must be a system to help customers know which sites can be trusted, such as a mark of validation.

Complaints !!!

It was recently reported that the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) had received over 400 complaints against some 10 deal sites between September and December last year, 61% of which were about the quality of purchased products.
 
This year, the centre, which is affiliated with FOMCA, had received more than 100 complaints pertaining to deal sites.

Be an Intelligent consumer :)

 ~ do as many background checks as possible on the sellers of the products before making purchases

~ do research on the products that they want to buy

~ consumers who were dissatisfied with their online purchases to inform their dealers right away

awesome pictures of FOMCA ^3^

 

FOMCA ANNOUNCES 40th ANNIVERSARY AND SMARTPHONE APPLICATION LAUNCH

Kuala Lumpur, December 18, 2012 - Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) held a press conference announcing the FOMCA anniversary of the 40th to be held on June 10, 2013 at Balai Besar, Alor Star, Kedah, where the establishment of a similar suggestion in 10 June 1973. 

In conjunction with the anniversary, FOMCA has developed a number of activities, including anniversary celebration, exhibition about FOMCA in a shopping mall, two publications on the history and achievements of the conference FOMCA and consumerism. 

In reaching the age of almost 40 years, FOMCA try to assess how far back its achievements in fighting for the interests of consumers, and in the same time to plan the way forward in the future. FOMCA will also assess the level of existing consumer protection in the country through the conference to be held next year. For this purpose, FOMCA will make eight consumer rights and the Consumer Protection Guidelines of the United Nations as a framework and benchmarks in assessing the status of consumer protection in Malaysia.

In the area of ​​advocacy, the FOMCA will continue to focus on consumer issues, such as rising food prices, food security and safety, public transportation, health care, the need for standards, financial services, endemic crime, issues related telecommunications and multimedia services and housing. 

Similarly, education, FOMCA will continue to focus on the rights of consumers, financial education for all walks of life, energy and water conservation and prudent use. FOMCA will run more than 450 community programs in 2013.Additionally, FOMCA will continue to publish various publications on consumer education, and greater use of websites and social media to disseminate information on consumption. 

During the ceremony, FOMCA also launched smartphone mobile applications, which is the first time by a consumer organization in Malaysia. The creation of applications to enable more FOMCA beyond consumer audience, especially the younger generation in consumer issues in a more simple and effective. 

There are five key elements in this free application, namely: Complaints, News, Campaigns, Publications and Background FOMCA. Now consumers can file a complaint at their fingertips through the application. They can take pictures and send immediately to FOMCA. 

Any news on consumer issues or stand FOMCA be updated through this application from time to time. For example, if there are any recalled products to any country around the world, this information will be updated and communicated to the user through the application. 

This application can be used for all smart phones using the Android operating system. Applications for the operating system iOS (iPhone) should be completed in January 2013. 

The press conference was attended by Datuk Marimuthu Nadason, FOMCA president, Dato 'Paul Selva Raj, CEO FOMCA and Mrs. Siti Rahayu Zakaria, Vice President FOMCA. Also present were members of the Supreme Council FOMCA. 

Introduction about FOMCA ~

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations or its acronym, FOMCA is a national non-governmental organization, which is voluntary, non-profit, non-political, and civic oriented. It is the umbrella body of registered consumer associations in Malaysia. FOMCA links the activities of consumers' associations in Malaysia and works together with the national and international levels towards strengthening consumer protection.

FOMCA's main concern is not only value for money but more so, value for people. FOMCA also promotes through the purchasing power of consumers a "need-oriented" development that will ensure socio-economic justice and environmental quality of life for all.

 

Objective 

FOMCA was formed primarily to:

1. Strengthen the growth and spread of the organized consumer movement in Malaysia.
2. Resolve consumer issues and promote the rights of consumers.
3. Promote through the purchasing power of consumers a “need-oriented” development that will ensure socio-economic justice and environmental quality of life for all.
4. Coordinate as an advisory body to all the other consumer organization in Malaysia.

Philosophy

FOMCA is not only a consumer body, it is also a development body.  FOMCA’s aim are:

• To create independence amongst consumers – “The Best Protection is Self Protection”."
• To create a wise, civic- minded society.

FOMCA practices

1. Work in partnership with the government but not for government.
2. Work with the consumers but not for consumers.
3. Controlling exploitation and non-ethic practices in business and not against a responsible business practices

Role

FOMCA has the following roles:

1. Researching consumer issues and its implications on people
2. Promote and conduct consumer education.
3. Advocate for better consumer protection.
4. Where required, conduct product testing.