Wednesday August 20, 2008

Itemise fines, Government urged

PETALING JAYA: The RM50mil fine issued to telecommunication licence holders last year should be “itemised”, said Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca).

Its secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said each of the offences should be listed together with the corresponding compounds issued by the Government.

“We should publicise the fines. Let everybody know. They should be ashamed of themselves. Part of the fines should come from the CEOs pockets,” he told The Star.

He also said that consumers should receive refunds every time the services of the companies are unsatisfactory.

“When there is no reception, then there is no reception. But if we pay our bill late, our account is cut off. There should be some fair play in the consumers contract. It is not only a matter of consumers paying, but the service provided.”

Former National Consumer Complaints Centre director Darshan Singh said the offences resulting to a RM50mil fine were only “the tip of the iceberg”.

He lauded Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor for daring to consider revoking the licences of the telecommunication companies.

“But we should not just compound them. What are the consumers getting? Are they getting refunds? You bill me for a year for a service I didn’t get or was sub-standard, so am I getting my money back?” he said.