MCA Launches consumer's Blog

Source - New Straits Times Online http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2540889/Article/index_html
Date - 2009/04/25

MCA launches consumers' blog

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA yesterday launched a blog for consumers to channel their complaints.

The blog, http://www.mcaconsumer.blogspot.com, was launched by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Kiat in conjunction with a consumer awareness campaign jointly organised by the party and the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations here.

"Consumers should know their rights. Don't blame (bad) luck when they are given imitation goods or are cheated."

He also said that with the liberalisation of 27 service sub-sectors as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently, there was a need for local operators to enhance the quality of their services to remain competitive.

Later, after launching the Technical Resource and Internship Network (Train) roadshow and Edu Mall @ South City at Seri Kembangan, Ong directed ministers in the party to help businesses that were part of the 27-sub sectors liberalised by the government.

He said it was the party's duty to reach out to affected industry players and help them face the challenges.

Ong is optimistic the move would liberalise the country's economy and enhance the nation's competitive edge.

"We should not be overly obsessed with quota or protectionism. We need to stand on our own two feet to confront the oncoming challenges."

Ong is the patron of Train, a non-profit programme aimed at coordinating vocational and training programmes for school drop-outs and school-leavers who were not academically inclined.

Meanwhile, the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) has called for more services sub-sectors to be liberalised.This would allow Malaysia to prepare for the Asean Trade Liberalisation, which is scheduled to be implemented in 2013, it said in a statement.

"The beauty of the new policy is that it opens up more opportunities for businesses to compete on a level playing field," said MBAM president Ng Kee Leen."

At the same time, liberalisation will also give freedom to local companies as well as foreign multinational companies to form joint ventures where applicable."

MBAM, which welcomed the removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity for 27 services sub-sectors, said the Malaysian business environment would become more competent, conducive and competitive, which in turn would attract more investments.