2014 – Page 3 – Consumers Association Penang

Malaysia may lose by RM5 billion from trade in the TPPA, besides damage in other areas: The Government should thus exit from the TPPA negotiations

admin October 24, 2014 0 Comments

A new paper by a senior economist working in a United Nations agency has shown that Malaysia will not enjoy a net gain in terms of its trade balance as a result of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Instead, Malaysia will suffer a decline in its trade balance with the other eleven TPPA countries by nearly RM5 billion. This finding provides another major reason why Malaysia...

Eyewash for a sinister plan – Stopping issuance of logging licence is merely smokescreen for the push of forest plantation

admin October 14, 2014 0 Comments

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem again shocked the public when he announced on 9 October that ‘there would be no more issuance of logging licence’ until the problem of illegal logging is stopped. While Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) welcomes what would appear to be Tan Sri Adenan’s resolve to curb the scourge of illegal logging, we are not convinced that it will stop illegal...

Stop Wasting Money on Souvenirs!

admin October 13, 2014 0 Comments

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) commends the move by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah requesting that neither he nor the Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim are to be given souvenirs when they attend official state functions. During these trying times, it warms the heart to read of the humility and practicality of one of our nation’s leaders. He believes that our...

Invasion of chemicals in our daily life: Opt for healthy lifestyle by avoiding hazardous chemicals

admin October 11, 2014 0 Comments

CAP views with dismay the presence of a wide range of hazardous chemicals in consumer products including food items. Malaysians are of the mindset that any new consumer products that are advertised are safe for consumption. The truth is some of these products carry with them toxic chemicals harmful to health. Children’s favourite junk food and processed food are saddled with artificial...

Industry first or people first? – Government of Malaysia suppresses oil palm smallholders in the interests of industry

admin October 8, 2014 0 Comments

Thousands of oil palm smallholders in Sarawak are severely impacted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s (MPOB) directive prohibiting traders from purchasing fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) of ‘suspicious’ origins. The directive came into effect since 1 July, 2014. It has come to Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)’s knowledge that at least in the Baram region of the Miri division of Sarawak, the...

Is Our Cyber Security Non-Existent?

admin October 8, 2014 0 Comments

The issue of the Latin American gang that hacked into some of Malaysia’s ATM’s (automated teller machines) and absconded with a little over RM 3 million is both frightening and eye-opening. It should be an indication to us that our cyber security is grossly lacking and perhaps our money and personal information are not as safe as we once thought them to be. If you have been following the...

Report of Forced Labour in Malaysian Electronics Industry: CAP Urges Government to Investigate and End the Abuse

admin October 3, 2014 0 Comments

CAP urges the Ministry of Human Resources and relevant authorities to verify a recent revelation of forced labour in the electronics industry in Malaysia. A study by Verité, a non-profit organization found that nearly one in three workers from seven countries surveyed was working in conditions of forced labour. The electrical and electronics industry is the leading sector in Malaysia's...

Seizure of protected tapang logs – the chance for Tan Sri Adenan to walk the talk

admin October 2, 2014 0 Comments

Sahabat Alam Malaysia’s (SAM) field staff has stumbled upon a huge pile of seized logs at the logpond of Sungai Pelutan in Middle Baram, Sarawak recently. To our dismay, the seized logs were of the Tapang species (Koompassia excelsa). Tapang is a protected plant species under the Second Schedule of the Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 because it is rare and because it is an important...

Issue 44-5 Sept-Oct 2014

admin October 1, 2014 0 Comments

We have stories which you will not find in other papers -- hard-hitting stuff with no holds barred, for we name the brands, companies or people in our exposes, unlike the commercial papers which are dependent on companies for their advertisements or are owned by political parties. You can expect our views and perspectives to be different, for we are on the side of consumers.

Plantation development in the Lesong Permanent Reserved Forest: Are we really practising sustainable forestry?

admin September 26, 2014 0 Comments

SAM deplores the decision of the Pahang State Government to permit forest conversion activities to take place within the Lesong Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF) in Kuala Rompin. On September 25, The Star reported that the Pahang Forestry Department had reasoned that since a third of the Lesong PRF is deemed to contain poor quality timber, “hence, a decision was made by the Pahang state...

Consumers Association Penang

Year: 2014