Article and photos contributed by Chiam Ter Ping, Officer, Bar Council
The launch of the Malaysian Consumer Law Journal (“Journal”) by YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade, Co–operatives and Consumerism, at the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Auditorium, Menara SSM@Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, on 15 June 2011 (Wednesday), marked yet another milestone in the movement for consumer rights.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister, YB Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe, Mahani Tan Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General (Consumerism and Management) of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co–operatives and Consumerism (“MDTCC”), Tuan Pretam Singh s/o Darshan Singh, Chairperson of the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia (“Tribunal”), YBhg Dato’ Azmi Ariffin, Chief Executive Officer of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, and members of the Journal’s editorial team.
The launch of the Malaysian Consumer Law Journal (“Journal”) by YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade, Co–operatives and Consumerism, at the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Auditorium, Menara SSM@Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, on 15 June 2011 (Wednesday), marked yet another milestone in the movement for consumer rights.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister, YB Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe, Mahani Tan Abdullah, Deputy Secretary General (Consumerism and Management) of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co–operatives and Consumerism (“MDTCC”), Tuan Pretam Singh s/o Darshan Singh, Chairperson of the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia (“Tribunal”), YBhg Dato’ Azmi Ariffin, Chief Executive Officer of the Companies Commission of Malaysia, and members of the Journal’s editorial team.
The ceremony began with YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob expressing his gratitude to all guests for attending the launch. The Journal, which also goes by the moniker “My.Consum.LJ”, aims to ensure that the efforts of the Tribunal in hearing and dispensing cases related to consumer–trader disputes are recorded for the public and those interested in consumerism. Jointly published by MDTCC and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the Journal will feature not only cases brought before the Tribunal, but also articles related to consumerism. It is hoped that the Journal will enable consumer rights to become more accessible to the public, thus allowing the public to gain a better understanding of the rationale behind the Tribunal’s decisions.
YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob then provided a brief background of the Tribunal, explaining that it had been set up in 1999 as an alternative to courts, for consumers to have their grievances heard. He revealed that the Tribunal had been an effective medium for solving consumer disputes, citing that out of the total of 59,441 cases heard between 1 Jan 2000 to 31 May 2011, 97.73% (58,094 cases) had been successfully settled.
The Minister announced that in a bid to improve the Tribunal’s services to the public, 10 new branches will commence operation in 2011. These new branches will be located in areas such as Batu Pahat, Gombak, Keningau, Kuala Kubu Baru, Kulim, Muar, Port Dickson, Seri Manjung, Sri Aman and Taiping. He added that the public would also have greater access to the Tribunal as the recently launched 1Malaysia Pengguna Bijak portal enabled registration of consumers’ details via SMS to have their cases heard at the Tribunal.
YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob then extended his appreciation to Bar Council Malaysia, Sabah Law Association and Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia for collaborating with the government to establish Dana Rakyat 1Malaysia (“Fund”). The Fund was created to provide legal aid to consumers for cases brought up for judicial review at the High Court by traders and manufacturers who were dissatisfied with the Tribunal’s decision.
The event concluded with YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob declaring the Journal officially launched, with a bang of the gavel. The inauguration was followed by a press conference and lunch.
YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob then provided a brief background of the Tribunal, explaining that it had been set up in 1999 as an alternative to courts, for consumers to have their grievances heard. He revealed that the Tribunal had been an effective medium for solving consumer disputes, citing that out of the total of 59,441 cases heard between 1 Jan 2000 to 31 May 2011, 97.73% (58,094 cases) had been successfully settled.
The Minister announced that in a bid to improve the Tribunal’s services to the public, 10 new branches will commence operation in 2011. These new branches will be located in areas such as Batu Pahat, Gombak, Keningau, Kuala Kubu Baru, Kulim, Muar, Port Dickson, Seri Manjung, Sri Aman and Taiping. He added that the public would also have greater access to the Tribunal as the recently launched 1Malaysia Pengguna Bijak portal enabled registration of consumers’ details via SMS to have their cases heard at the Tribunal.
YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob then extended his appreciation to Bar Council Malaysia, Sabah Law Association and Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia for collaborating with the government to establish Dana Rakyat 1Malaysia (“Fund”). The Fund was created to provide legal aid to consumers for cases brought up for judicial review at the High Court by traders and manufacturers who were dissatisfied with the Tribunal’s decision.
The event concluded with YB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri b Yaakob declaring the Journal officially launched, with a bang of the gavel. The inauguration was followed by a press conference and lunch.