SHAH ALAM, 4 Aug 2009: The Consumer Protection Act will be amended next year to provide more benefits to consumers, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
He said the act would be tabled for first reading in the next Parliament session, and would include new clauses to protect consumers, pertinently to address the problem of unfair contractors and confusing advertisements.
“A special committee may be formed to monitor advertisements,” he said after opening a national seminar for consumers and launching the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Consumers Club here today.
Ismail Sabri said the amendments would also involve the Tribunal for Consumer Claims, and companies would no longer be allowed to use the service of legal advisers during hearings.
He added that the Competition Act would also be amended to prevent big companies from fixing the price of goods, which would prevent business monopoly and encourage competition.
“Price fixing denies consumers of their right to choose. The ministry is against price fixing as it wants consumers to benefit,” Ismail Sabri said. — Bernama
