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SHAH ALAM - Pembekal, orang tengah dan peniaga barangan keperluan harian diingatkan supaya tidak mengambil peluang menaikkan harga sepanjang Ramadan.
Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca), Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, sudah menjadi trend pihak tertentu menaikkan harga barangan mentah sebelum Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) mengumumkan Skim Kawalan Harga Perayaan.
“Mungkin mereka mahu dapatkan keuntungan berlipat kali ganda sebelum kerajaan umumkan skim kawalan harga. Ditambah pula dengan permintaan meningkat, jadi mereka ini ambil peluang.
“Sebagai contoh, kalau harga ayam di peringkat pembekal iaitu di ladangnya dinaikkan, ia memberi kesan kepada peniaga yang terpaksa jual dengan harga lebih tinggi berbanding biasa, yang akhirnya turut beri kesan kepada pengguna,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian, semalam.
Menurutnya, KPDNKK perlu mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap mana-mana pihak dalam rantaian pembekal bahan mentah yang sengaja menaikkan harga secara tidak munasabah.
“Saya ada terbaca laporan mengenai penjualan ayam proses yang berbeza-beza harga. Ada yang cakap mereka boleh jual harga murah berbanding lain kerana ternak, proses sendiri dan tidak melalui orang tengah.
“Sebab itulah salah satu pendekatan Kementerian Pertanian dan Asas Tani adalah jihad memerangi orang tengah bagi pesawah, petani dan nelayan. Dengan tiada orang tengah ini, harga barangan juga lebih murah,” katanya.
Justeru, beliau menasihati orang ramai supaya bertindak bijak membuat pilihan dalam membeli barangan mentah dan makanan sepanjang Ramadan.
“Pilih kedai atau gerai yang menyediakan harga berpatutan. Abaikan kedai yang meletakkan harga tidak munasabah. Dengan cara ini, mereka akan menurunkan harga kepada lebih berpatutan.
“Selain itu, pengguna perlu jadi mata kepada pihak KPDNKK dengan membuat aduan sekiranya ada peniaga yang jual bahan mentah atau makanan yang mengambil keuntungan melampau,” katanya.
Ditanya mengenai kenaikan melampau harga makanan di bazar Ramadan, Mohd Yusof berkata, perkara itu tidak sepatutnya berlaku.
“Perkara ini mungkin disebabkan trend rakyat di negara kita lebih cenderung membeli di bazar berbanding masak di rumah.
"Mungkin sebab faktor kerja dan tidak mempunyai masa, jadi orang kita ini ambil pendekatan makan atau beli di luar.
“Seperti sedia maklum, permintaan tinggi daripada pengguna akan membawa kepada kenaikan kadar harga sesuatu produk. Sebab itu kalau kita perasan, harga air di bazar meningkat hampir setiap tahun. Mungkin tahun lalu RM2 satu plastik, tetapi tahun ini dah jadi RM3, jadi pembeli kena bijak,” katanya.
Sumber : Sinar Harian 29 Mei 2017
http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/jangan-ambil-kesempatan-naik-harga-1.681545
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PUTRAJAYA: Analisis Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur mendapati setiap hari, 3,000 tan sampah dibuang dan 80 peratus daripadanya adalah sisa makanan buangan dari rumah.
Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, berkata daripada 80 peratus itu, 40 peratus adalah makanan yang masih elok dan boleh dimakan.
Sehubungan itu, katanya, beliau tidak menolak kemungkinan jumlah berkenaan mungkin meningkat pada bulan Ramadan. "Kajian yang kita jalankan ini pada hari biasa, bukannya pada Ramadan, namun pembaziran yang dilakukan ini sangat ketara.
"Diharapkan dengan adanya kempen MYSaveFood@Ramadan yang dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Pertanian dan Indsutri Asas Tani ini, akan menyedarkan masyarakat supaya tidak membazir ketika membeli makanan," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan kempen MYSaveFood@Ramadan, di Bazar Ramadan, Presint 3, di sini hari ini. Yang turut hadir, Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Sementara itu, Shabery berkata pihaknya mahu jadikan Wilayah Persekutuan sebagai model terbaik bagi membangunkan kesedaran dalam kalangan penjawat awam supaya tidak membazir makanan.
"Dalam Ramadan ini, sepatutnya kita kena berjimat, namun kebanyakan daripada kita terpengaruh dengan nafsu sehingga membeli makanan dengan banyak.
"Saya tidak menghalang masyarakat untuk membeli kerana ia bagus untuk penjaja tetapi perlulah membuat perancangan iaitu beli dalam jumlah yang sedikit supaya makanan tidak dibazirkan.
"Difahamkan, beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) turut bersama dalam kempen ini, NGO ini akan bekerjasama dengan penjaja untuk mengagihkan makanan yang tidak habis dijual kepada golongan yang memerlukan," katanya.
Sumber : 31 Mei 2017 Berita Harian
http://www.bharian.com.my/node/288375
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KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) hari ini menafikan dakwaan kononnya terdapat jualan minyak masak kitar semula di pasaran, seperti yang viral baru-baru ini.
Pengarah Penguatkuasa KPDNKK, Datuk Mohd Roslan Mahayudin, berkata siasatan daripada pihak kementerian mendapati, tiada sebarang minyak masak kitar semula dijual di pasaran seperti yang dihebohkan.
Katanya, isu terbabit sebelum ini pernah menjadi viral dalam media sosial terutama Facebook, namun sehingga kini, pihaknya tidak menemui sebarang bukti.
"Isu minyak masak kitar semula terdiri daripada pelbagai jenama pernah menjadi hangat dulu, terutama ketika berlakunya isu kekurangan minyak masak di negara ini.
"Kami dah siasat dan setakat ini tidak menemui sebarang minyak masak kitar semula yang dijual di pasaran. Kami juga tidak menerima sebarang laporan atau aduan daripada orang ramai," katanya ketika dihubungi BH, hari ini.
Baru-baru ini, beberapa pengguna Facebook memuat naik gambar serta status menerusi laman sosial itu mendakwa terdapat minyak masak jenama 'Buah Sawit' yang diproses semula menggunakan minyak masak dari restoran dan kedai-kedai makan sebelum dijual di pasaran.
Bagaimanapun, tinjauan BH di beberapa pasar raya dan kedai runcit sekitar Lembah Klang mendapati minyak masak berjenama 'Buah Sawit' tiada dijual.
Mohd Roslan berkata, orang ramai yang mempunyai sebarang maklumat berhubung minyak masak kitar semula diminta tampil menyalurkan maklumat kepada pihak berkuasa.
"Sekiranya ada maklumat, beritahu kami di mana lokasi (premis yang menjual) supaya kami boleh mengambil tindakan. "Perkara sebegini tidak akan selesai sekiranya diviralkan dalam Facebook sahaja," kata beliau.
Sumber : 31 Mei 2017 Berita Harian
http://www.bharian.com.my/node/288343
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PETALING JAYA: Several NGOs are trying to reduce food wastage this Ramadan by trimming the portions of food being distributed to the homeless.
Institute Onn Ja’afar (IOJ) CEO Charles Mohan said big portions were one of the main reasons for food wastage, adding that homeless people often received such amounts from different NGOs on the same day.
He said in order to reduce wastage, IOJ had downsized its portions and changed the type of food it offered the homeless, handing out biscuits and mineral water.
Rina Shaharuddin from Need to Feed the Need (NFN) said her NGO had managed to reduce the amount of wastage by halving the portions they normally offer to the homeless.
She added that the different NGOs were all aware of each other’s activities, which made it easier to estimate the amount of food to distribute.
“If the individuals and companies that want to feed the homeless during Ramadan work with us or other NGOs, perhaps the amount of food wastage can be reduced even more,” she said to FMT.
Kogeelan Pall, chairman and founder of Persatuan Kebajikan iCareBearz, said food wastage had been rampant ever since the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced its plan to ban homeless feeding.
“Ever since that announcement, more people have started coming to the streets to give out food, which leads to food wastage,” he told FMT.
“It becomes worse during festive seasons such as Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Christmas or Deepavali, as Malaysians seem to be more charitable during these periods.”
He added that street feeders had been working on trying to minimise food wastage for the past two years.
Jennifer Chua, co-founder of Happy Caring Hearts Crews, agreed that food wastage was due to the increase in public awareness, especially after the DBKL announcement.
She told FMT that other factors included university students feeding the homeless as part of their community projects.
Multiple NGOs aiming for the same spot also contributes to food wastage in the area.
For example, the Tune Hotel along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and near Jalan Chow Kit is a hot spot for homeless feeding.
For this reason, Robin Hood Army chooses to distribute food near Pasar Seni, opposite Bangkok Bank, instead.
“There is no food wastage (here). In fact, there is a lack of food to be given,” said Kim Chang, who is the chapter leader of the NGO’s Kuala Lumpur branch.
Chang said the area was quiet compared with other hot spot locations, adding that the NGO works with restaurants in providing the food, which allows it to fix the amount distributed to the homeless.
Other approaches to reducing food wastage
Other NGOs are trying different methods of preventing food wastage.
Feed The Needy, for instance, offers free haircuts in addition to providing food.
Meanwhile, The Travellers puts a hold on feeding the homeless during Ramadan. Instead, it delivers food supplies to asnaf, those who are eligible to receive zakat or alms, and muallaf, those who are newly-converted to Islam.
Erin Ratna, vice-president of Kindness Malaysia, said the organisation takes a month’s break during Ramadan to allow other NGOs and members of the public to feed the homeless.
She suggested that members of the public who are interested in helping the homeless give them dry food such as biscuits which will last longer.
Munira Abdul Hamid, chairperson of Pertiwi Kitchen, said those who wished to help should reach out to NGOs so that proper planning could be done on the amount of food distributed.
“The public needs to understand the main objective of feeding the homeless. That way, we can help them out,” she said to FMT.
She said the NGOs are doing more than just feeding the homeless, and are trying their best to understand the situation and the needs involved before offering their help and holding further discussions with the government.
“We, the NGOs, talk to the homeless and find out the reasons they are homeless and provide them with what they need,” she said.
1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted globally every year
The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally every year.
Organisations in most countries are working to reduce that amount.
For example, Hayati’s Food Aid Foundation in Malaysia works to salvage and redistribute food that would have otherwise been thrown away.
The NGO collects unserved dishes from hotels, and bread and canned food from supermarkets and other places to distribute to charities and soup kitchens.
However, food is still ending up in Malaysia’s landfills. Many NGOs add that they have seen homeless people sleeping beside piles of untouched food.
This also raises concerns over cleanliness, as the NGOs are worried that food wastage will contribute to unhygienic living areas for the homeless.
Last month, the Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) estimated that 200,000 tonnes of food – enough to feed 180 million people – was thrown away.
According to Hayati Food Aid Foundation, the main cause of food wastage comes from domestic waste and Ramadan bazaars.
Although the amount of food wastage has gone down this year compared with previous years, it remains a problem.
NGOs are urging members of the public to visit the NGOHub website for information on feeding the homeless with NGOs instead of going at it alone.
NGOHub has been helping the organisations compile and map the activities of street feeders for public reference and to aid the NGOs in reducing food wastage.
Source : 13 JUNE 2017 Free Malaysia Today
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/06/13/feeding-the-homeless-how-to-reduce-food-wastage/
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MALAYSIANS waste a lot of food. But few people take heed.
Malaysians go on a food-wasting-spree and without remorse. So despite noisy, spirited occasional complaints about prices of foodstuff, many among us are still perennial food wasters. It is estimated that in a household of five, RM2,700 worth of food per year is wasted.
Even the Government commissioned a national strategic plan for food waste management in Malaysia in 2014. No kidding!
The plan was to develop regulations on food waste but to date, no policies on this have been announced.
We have read this before: we generate 15,000 tonnes of food waste a day, enough to fill 7.5 football fields or to feed 7.5 million people. We are talking about feeding the entire state of Israel or the entire migrant population of Britain!
Meanwhile, each day one in five humans go hungry. That is 800 million people or more than 26 times the population of Malaysia. There are millions of undernourished children in poor countries.
We should be content with consuming 2,500 calories of energy a day, yet our calorie intake is more than that.
Compare that to a Somalian who has to live with 1,500 calories a day. We don’t die because of lack of food; we die because of diseases related to surplus food and the kind of food we consume.
Every Ramadan we hear the call to limit food intake for Muslims.
They are supposed to empathise with the poor and the disadvantaged, to feel the pangs of hunger.
It is supposed to be an exercise in humility, in subjugation and submission.
But food wasting is blind to race and religion. Humanity as a whole has to be blamed.
Advanced countries like the United States, Britain and Canada are wasting food at the rate of 100kg per person per year. According to a George Morris Centre report in 2010, RM115bil worth of Canadian food ends up in landfills.
The title of Jonathan Bloom’s book, American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half Its Food (And What We Can Do About It), is self-explanatory.
How did the 50% come about? Bloom is looking at the entire food distribution network. At every level of the food chain, there is a significant amount of food chucking.
Because of the demand for less than perfect produce, farmers have to discard the “spoiled” items. At the food stores, there will be another round of scrutiny.
In another shocking finding, it is estimated that 30% of the 1.5 billion tonnes of food produced around the world annually ends up in landfills before it even reaches the consumers. In homes, food is stuffed in refrigerators.
And most of the time, because of too much food stocked, much is simply thrown away. Leftovers from the dining table, too, will contribute to waste. The cycle goes on.
Imagine the amount of food wasted along the distribution chain, which could have otherwise become nutrients for the undernourished.
Normally we equate food scarcity with poverty. It may be true.
But more often than not, those living in poverty are managing their food better than the rest. Scarcity of resources is part and parcel of their daily lives so they have to careful with what they have.
The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that 22,000 children die each day due to poverty, even though there is an abundance of food elsewhere. More than 1.6 billion humans live without electricity. Many of their children do not go to school.
Many believe that food scarcity is a myth. There is no shortage of food; in fact, the world is facing a food surplus.
With the kind of food waste Malaysians and people of many nations are guilty of, it is shameful to imagine many developing and under-developing countries are facing food deficits.
Edible materials are not well distributed because of many factors.
There are cases of food aid not reaching the intended recipients.
Corruption is rampant in many of the affected countries. And of course, there are market forces that allow food to be destroyed, in order to keep the prices up.
Even considering those factors, food waste is still the culprit.
If countries like ours could halve the waste and a mechanism was in place to distribute the food to needy countries, we could help at least a portion of those 800 million people going hungry before they go to sleep.
Replicate that in other countries. Perhaps, one day, hunger would be a thing of the past.
There have been many movements to address food wastage in the world today. There are groups trying to recycle food deemed unsaleable at supermarkets.
In Kuala Lumpur, there are NGOs encouraging hotel chains to contribute leftover food.
But good food management must begin at home. Simple steps to minimise waste will go a long way. And save lives.
For Muslims, the best time to discipline themselves to avoid food wastage is now, during the fasting month.
Johan Jaaffar was a journalist, editor and for some years chairman of a media company, and is passionate about all things literature and the arts. The views expressed here are entirely his own.
Source : 12 June 2017 The Star
http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/the-bowerbird-writes/2017/06/12/the-need-to-manage-food-waste-there-is-enough-food-for-all-but-due-to-wastage-many-people-especially/
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KUALA LUMPUR - Cadangan Kementerian Sumber Manusia menetapkan semua restoran di negara ini hanya guna khidmat tukang masak tempatan mulai 1 Julai adalah tindakan wajar.
Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca), Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, cadangan itu mampu menyelesaikan masalah yang pernah timbul sebelum ini terutama dari aspek kebersihan.
“Kita amat sokong langkah diambil kementerian kerana kalau kita lihat sekarang, memang banyak restoran mengambil pekerja warga asing sebagai tukang masak kerana masalah kos.
“Tapi, sekiranya pekerja tempatan yang bekerja, ia sedikit sebanyak menjamin kebersihan, apatah lagi menu dihasilkan juga adalah masakan tempatan," katanya.
Beliau bagaimanapun berkata, dalam melaksanakan dasar itu, kerajaan juga perlu memberi perhatian terhadap faktor penguatkuasaan.
"Kita juga tidak mahu dasar kerajaan ini boleh menimbulkan masalah kepada restoran-restoran ini dan mereka perlu diberi tempoh sewajarnya.
“Tapi dalam masa sama, penguatkuasaan lebih tegas perlu diambil, selain pengguna turut memainkan peranan kerana kita tahu kekangan kerajaan untuk memantau semua restoran yang ada di negara ini,” katanya.
Kelmarin, Menteri Sumber Manusia, M. Kulasegaran menggesa semua restoran di negara ini mengambil tukang masak tempatan untuk bekerja di restoran masing-masing mulai 1 Julai ini.
Bagaimanapun, semua pengusaha akan diberi tempoh hingga hujung tahun ini untuk memastikan hanya tukang masak tempatan bekerja di restoran mereka sebelum peraturan baharu itu dikuatkuasakan mulai 1 Januari 2019.
Sumber :: http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/cadangan-kementerian-wajar-fomca-1.848426
24 Jun 2018 Sinar Harian Online
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SHAH ALAM - Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) berharap kerajaan baharu dapat mendengar apa sahaja yang disuarakan persatuan pengguna mengenai pemansuhan Permit Import (AP) yang membolehkan harga barang turun.
Timbalan Presiden Fomca, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman berkata, pihaknya bersetuju AP dimansuhkan kerana terdapat unsur monopoli daripada segelintir pihak yang mendapat hak dan mereka akan memilih negara mana yang mereka suka.
Menurutnya, mengambil contoh tepung kebanyakannya diimport dari Australia atau Kanada dan ternyata berkualiti tinggi tetapi mahal sedangkan terdapat tepung yang ada harga murah seperti di Turki dan India.
“Sebenarnya kita boleh memilih harga yang lebih rendah tetapi disebabkan AP itu hanya kepada segelintir pihak sahaja mereka memilih negara mana yang dapat akhirnya kita dapat harga yang mahal.
“Sebab itu jika AP dimansuhkan sesiapa sahaja boleh mengimport dan kitapun ada pilihan dan bukan setiap masa hendak membeli tepung dengan harga yang mahal,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian.
[ARTIKEL BERKAITAN: Mansuh AP barang untuk pastikan harga turun]
Mohd Yusof berkata, pemansuhan AP adalah satu pilihan yang perlu bagi memberi peluang kepada rakyat untuk membeli dengan harga yang lebih rendah.
Katanya, pihaknya sudah lama meminta kerajaan memansuhkannya kerana AP ini menyekat, namun pada masa sama negara juga perlu memastikan tanaman negara berkembang supaya dapat bersaing dengan negara luar.
“Kitapun bukannya negara pengeluaran tanaman, sebahagian kita import, jadi tiada maknanya kita menghadkan dari segi kemasukan, cuma perlu memastikan tanaman yang masuk itu dalam keadaan baik dan tiada lambakan.
“Isu pemansuhan sudah lama diutarakan kita bersetujulah dengan langkah pemansuhan supaya dapat membuka ruang dan memulihkan mana-mana pihak untuk mengimport dan pengguna mendapat kebaikan dengan harga rendah,” katanya.
Sumber :: http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/dengar-keluhan-pengguna-isu-ap-fomca-1.853707
7 Julai 2018, Sinar Online
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KULIM: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) is reviewing the proposal to do away with the approved permit (AP) system for food items to allow the prices to be reduced.
Its minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he needed time to look into the matter as well as to obtain feedback from industry players.
"I need time to study the proposal whether the move to do away with the AP system can help reduce the price of goods. If the move can reduce the prices, then we will move in that direction," said Saifuddin Nasution, who is also Kulim Bandar Baru MP when met at the handing over of a memorandum to protest against the logging activities at Kampung Sungai Tengas, here today.
Previously, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) has suggested the AP system to be removed to help reduce the price of goods as there were elements of monopoly involving some of the AP holders.
Saifuddin Nasution also said that the ministry was currently in the midst of preparing the list of goods and businesses under the AP system that was considered to have elements of monopoly.
He said it was part of the plan to ensure that there was no price increase due to the AP monopoly, particularly those involving basic necessities.
"Under the KPDNHEP there are several types of APs including AP for rice, sugar, vegetables and so on and if there are elements of monopoly that put consumers at a disadvantage, we will not hesitate to hire new bidders," he said. — Bernama
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FOMCA fully supports the concrete actions of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to address the pressing cost of living issues being faced by consumers, especially low and middle income consumers.
Firstly, a full market review of the food supply chain needs to be undertaken. The analysis would indicate the extent of monopolistic behaviours, either through local players in the local food supply chain or through the approved permits systems for imported foods.
Next, the government should use the full provisions of the Competition Act, 2010, to take stern actions against traders or groups of traders in the supply chain practicing any form of monopolistic behaviour to manipulate and overcharge consumers to make excessive profits.
Similarly, all food approved permits for imported need to be eliminated to promote free trade that would ensure lower prices, higher quality and more choices for consumers. The Ministry had reported that 297 companies were holding APs for importing food items. It is time to eliminate this practice, once and for all.
Next, the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act, 2010, needs to be strictly enforced to ensure that all forms of price manipulation and overcharging of consumers, to make excessive profits, is eliminated. Traders certainly have the right to “normal” profits; however, making excessive profits for essential foods will result in great suffering to especially low income consumers.
The Ministry can also further examine and strengthen the Pasar Malam/Pagi mechanism to facilitate the direct movement of food from farmer to consumer. Through eliminating the middle-men and their exploitative practices, farmers benefit from higher prices and consumers benefit through fresher goods and lower prices.
Further, Malaysia needs to take concrete steps to increase food production to be more self-sufficient. Malaysia’s food import bill has been steadily increasing, form RM 26.3 billion in 2009 to RM 45.4 billion in 2015.
Previously, there has been an excessive focus on cash crops such as oil palm and rubber. Food production has often been neglected. Malaysia thus is only self-sufficient in chicken, fish, eggs and pork. Thus all the other essential foods are imported. Further, animal feed is also heavily imported affecting the price of the sold farm animals.
There thus needs to be serious attempts to ensure food availability and food affordability. The government needs to re-emphasise the production of food in Malaysia to bring down the costs of living.
The government should also focus on consumer education to empower consumers to change their attitude, skills and knowledge to be more prudent consumers. Focus should also be on financial education to empower consumers to better manage their consumption, savings and their credit.
Addressing the cost of living is the responsibility of both the government and the consumers. The government needs to undertake programs and policies to bring down the costs while consumers need to better manage their consumption and better manage their finances in this challenging economic environment.
Dato’ Dr. Paul Selva Raj
Chief Executive Officer
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA)
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Baru-baru ini Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) telah mengumumkan bahawa mereka akan mengkaji keperluan untuk melaksanakan sistem pengundian lebih awal (advance voting).
Sistem pengundian awal bermaksud pengundi boleh membuang undi sehari atau beberapa hari lebih awal. Tujuannya bagi meningkatkan jumlah pengundi serta mengurangkan kesesakan pada hari mengundi. Menurut Timbalan Pengerusi SPR, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, sistem ini telah dijalankan di beberapa buah negara termasuklah negara jiran seperti Thailand dan Indonesia.
Apa yang menjadi persoalannya di sini ialah bukankah lebih baik jika SPR memfokuskan kepada sistem pendaftaran pengundi secara automatik sekiranya objektif untuk mengadakan sistem pengundian awal ini, adalah untuk meningkatkan jumlah pengundi pada hari mengundi?
Sehingga kini, terdapat 4.4 juta rakyat Malaysia yang layak untuk mengundi tidak atau belum mendaftar dengan SPR. Ini adalah sesuatu yang membimbangkan kerana ia menunjukkan kurangnya kesedaran dalam kalangan rakyat, atau sikap tidak lagi peduli tentang situasi politik negara. Ini bakal merugikan banyak pihak termasuk pengundi itu sendiri kerana mereka hanya diberikan hak mengundi sekali sahaja setiap lima tahun dalam menentukan kepimpinan kerajaan tetapi menafikan atau dengan sengaja mengabaikan hak tersebut.
Jika MyKad dijadikan sebagai kad pelbagai fungsi (merujuk juga kepada fungsi MyKad akan dijadikan sebagai saluran untuk mendapatkan subsidi minyak dan fungsi-fungsi lain yang pernah diperkenalkan seperti kad TouchNGo dan kad ATM), mengapa seorang pemegang MyKad yang telah berumur 21 tahun, berwarganegara Malaysia tidak boleh diklasifikasikan sebagai pengundi secara automatik? Dan jika pihak bank dan TouchNGo Sdn Bhd boleh bekerjasama dengan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara, mengapa hal yang sama tidak boleh berlaku antara SPR dan JPN?
Saya pernah bertanya kepada beberapa rakan yang masih belum mendaftar, dan jawapan yang mereka berikan adalah ‘menjadi kerja untuk pergi mendaftar’, ‘kalau mendaftar, bila mengundi, perlu pulang ke kampung halaman’, ‘sudah tidak percayakan sistem pengundian’ dan alasan-alasan lain yang mengejutkan.
Melihat kepada masalah pengundi akan menyalahkan pihak SPR mengenai alamat tempat tinggal, kerana alamat tempat tinggal yang berbeza dalam MyKad dan tempat tinggal sekarang pengundi itu sendiri, ia merupakan tanggungjawab pengundi itu sendiri. Ingin saya bertanya, berapa ramai rakyat Malaysia yang sedar bahawa mereka perlu menukar alamat tempat tinggal setiap kali mereka berpindah dan menetap di satu-satu kawasan?
Apa yang ingin saya jelaskan di sini adalah, sayang jika dibiarkan pengundi terus tidak berdaftar. Mereka mungkin tidak tahu atau tidak mahu mengambil tahu. Tetapi, tidakkah akan menjadi satu titik permulaan kepada rakyat bagi mempunyai kesedaran dalam memiliki hak untuk keluar mengundi? Bukankah ini akan menjadikan SPR dan JPN yang lebih efektif dan mesra rakyat? Tidakkah ini juga akan meningkat keupayaan JPN sebagai menyahut konsep KPI yang diperkenalkan kerajaan? SPR patut melihat jauh di dalam isu ini selain daripada memfokuskan kepada sistem pengundian awal.
Azwa Abdul Rahman
27 Januari 2010
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