Consumer claims tribunal to hear cases up to RM20,000

[jeffooi]

UTUSAN.COM.MY
Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Consumer claims tribunal to hear cases up to RM20,000, says Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 5 - Claim for damages in the Consumer Claims Tribunal would be raised from 10,000 to RM20,000 effective next year.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the claim limits were raised following the increase in prices of goods and services as well as business transactions exceeding RM10,000.

Many cases were rejected because they exceeded the RM10,000 limit and some consumers even reduced their claims so the tribunals could hear their cases, he said.

"If we raise the limit, more cases could be heard. More people want the tribunal to conduct their cases," he told reporters after launching the tribunal's new logo here today.

The Consumer Claims Tribunal was established under the Consumers Protection Act 1999. It started operating on Nov 15, 1999 and is located in every state.

In 2000, the tribunal received 291 claims and 1,155 cases the following year. As of Oct 31, 2,110 complaints were filed.

Sixty percent of the compliants were related to unsatisfactory goods and 40 percent involved services.

Muhyiddin said the tribunal succeed in solving the complaints within 60 days from the date of filing a claim.

A total of 3,086 awards were made until Oct 31 and 175 of it were not complied with.

He said those who do not comply with the tribunal's decision could be fined RM5,000 or two years jail.

Muhyiddin urged house buyers with grievances to refer their cases to the Housing Tribunal, which would be established under the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

This is to aviod overlapping of cases between the consumer and housing tribunals, he said.

The Housing Tribunal was proposed to solve claims below RM25,000 against developers.


FULL STORY:
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/cont...e&pg=fp_10.htm

[jeffooi]

NEW SUNDAY TIMES
Sunday, November 10, 2002

New consumer tribunal guidelines
Hamidah Atan

SEREMBAN, Nov 9: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will issue new guidelines on cases that can be referred to the Consumer Claims Tribunal.

Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the guidelines were needed in view of the formation of the special Housing Tribunal under the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act 1966.

"We must know what cases can be referred to the Consumer Claims Tribunal and what should be heard by the Housing Tribunal. We do not want the same case to be heard by the two tribunals." He said.

On Aug 19, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said a special Housing Tribunal would be set up soon.

It would handle claims of less than RM25,000. Claims above that would be heard by the normal courts.


FULL STORY:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/N...85309/Article/