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UTUSAN on-line Ekonomi
21 Ogos 2003

KUALA LUMPUR Aug 21 - Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum of Malaysia (CFM) urged all consumers of communications and multimedia services to be aware of "special deals" offered by service providers of all sorts.

With the market getting more competitive each day, service providers turned to offering ample luxurious promotional packages to attract consumers who might not even notice if these packages met their expectations, CFM said in a statement Tuesday.

Deputy president of Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA), Muhammad Sha'ani, who is also CFM vice-chairman, said: "As consumers, we have to know what benefits we are getting from `cost-saving' packages, pre-paid and monthly payment packages and services that comes with worldwide coverage offered by service providers."

Established in February 2001, CFM is one of the four independent forums set up in line with requirements of Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998 (CMA), under the auspices of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

It is the only forum specially tasked to work on the basis of industry self-regulation with participation not only from the industry, but also representatives from consumer bodies.

The CFM-drafted self-regulatory code would form as a benchmark for the communications and multimedia industry, general manager regulatory of Time DotCom, K. Chelvakumar, who is also CFM chairman, said.

CFM was a platform set up to ensure that all consumers' inquiries and questions were answered, and their rights not abused.

The General Consumer Code of Practice (Code) CFM drafted, expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2003, is a self-regulatory Code, which will provide and set the standards for an effective complaint-handling system for the public to lodge complaints against service providers.

"The forum is organised to reach an agreement for a practical code which is fair to all parties concerned. Both consumers and service providers must work together to achieve a win/win situation for both parties," Chelvakumar said.

The Code will require service providers to explain clearly to consumers exactly what they will benefit from the service provision in general.

"One principal right the consumer will have is the right not be misled in the provision of information," he said.

To date, CFM has been assisting consumers, preventing their rights from being abused through a soft approach until the launch of the Code.

Once the Code is approved by MCMC, CFM would have a clout to weave and apprehend issues which had long been a bane to consumers and service providers, Fomca's Sha'ani said.

With the participation of CFM, service providers would then know consumers' expectations and be able to deliver just and fair services to consumers, he said.

CFM currently has 13 elected council members and 47 committee members from various industries such as internet service providers, telecommunications companies and broadcasting stations, known as the "Supply Side", and non-government organisations and public interest groups, known as the "Demand Side".

For more information, visit the CFM website http://www.cfm.org.my or write to Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum Malaysia (CFM), Unit 703, Block A, Kelana Centre Point 3, Jalan SS7/19, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The phone number is 03-7620 2222, fax 03-7808 2088 and e-mail: forguna@po.jaring.my.