The Consumer Protection Act 1999 will be amended to cover purchases made through electronic transaction, said Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The proposed amendment entails the setting up of a committee to monitor advertisements in efforts to curtail misleading advertisements, he said when winding-up debated on the ministry’s supply bill at the Dewan Rakyat Monday.
He was responding to a call from Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) for the act to be amended to curtail misleading advertisements.
Ismail Sabri said the draft of the bill was being scrutinised before it would be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for tabling in parliament in March next year.
To a question from Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) on unethical business practices including in the pharmaceutical sector, he said Section 2(2)(f) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 did not cover healthcare provided by professionals or health centres.
It falls under the Pharmaceutical Bureau of the Health Ministry, he said, adding that, however the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry would submit complaints to the bureau.
To a question from Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri), he said the amendment to the Consumer Protection Act would ensure that consumers could seek redress through the Tribunal for Consumer Claims.
In another development, he said the contracts of 1,464 price monitoring officers would end in March next year and the ministry had sought the cabinet’s approval to extend their services until the end of the year.
“Although there were calls for them to be absorbed as permanent staff, the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Department,” he added.
– BERNAMA
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