October 2019 – Page 2 – Consumers Association Penang

Abandon the cable car project and improve housing for the poor

admin October 18, 2019 0 Comments

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Penang State Government not to build a cable car connecting Botanical Gardens to the Penang Hill summit as it will have serious consequences for our environment and health. The well-being of the people and the integrity of our environment should not be sacrificed at the altar of tourist dollars. The provision of a cable car would lead to the...

“How Much is Hidden? Pay for Elites in Government Linked Entities (GLE’s)”

admin October 18, 2019 0 Comments

There is an urgent need for greater transparency in the disclosure of pay levels and practices for the directors of government-linked entities (GLEs), stresses a new book published by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP). The book, How Much Is Hidden?: Pay for Elites in Government-Linked Entities, issues this call amid public concern over the substandard performance of some GLEs and...

We are right after all… it’s a fire sale

admin October 16, 2019 0 Comments

The Finance Minister announced during the recent National Budget 2020 that the government is lowering the threshold on high rise property prices to RM600,000 from RM1 million for a year. This is to enable foreign ownership of condominium and apartments in urban areas to reduce the existing overhang of these properties that amounted to RM8.3 billion in the second quarter of 2019. As such we wish...

Asia city officials, groups showcase solutions to plastic pollution

admin October 13, 2019 0 Comments

Penang, Malaysia (13 October 2019) — Hundreds of local government officials and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Asia are meeting in a two-day international conference in Penang, Malaysia to showcase solutions and discuss policies that will help bring an end to plastic pollution—and usher in sustainable, Zero Waste Cities in the region. The conference organized by the...

All are equally dangerous, EVCs or cigarettes

admin October 9, 2019 0 Comments

It is a norm that whenever the tabling of the National Budget is around the corner, tobacco companies will actively promote their agenda, this time featuring the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices (EVCs). The claim by the promoters of vaping that EVC helps them to quit tobacco smoking is baseless. The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) wants to reiterate what it has been claiming that...

CAP calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Malaysia’s poverty scandal

admin October 9, 2019 0 Comments

We refer to our Press Statement that was sent out on 3rd September titled ‘CAP calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Malaysia’s poverty scandal’. Please refer to para 5 of our statement, According to the Prime Minister's economic adviser, Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid, official data shows that states like Johor, Melaka, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya had 0% poverty. One only needs...

CAP: Ban on Deadly Face Creams Ineffective

admin October 8, 2019 0 Comments

Time and again we hear of face creams being banned by the Malaysian authorities as it was found that these creams contain harmful substances such as mercury. The ban has been found to be ineffective as face creams containing mercury are still available in the market. In a random survey conducted in Penang and Kuala Lumpur, we found whitening creams including those that have been banned freely...

The last thing the people need is to be burdened by increased rates

admin October 7, 2019 0 Comments

Penang’s two local councils, the MBPP and MBSP, have increased the assessment rates of a total of 322,549 and 327,401 properties on the island and Seberang Perai respectively. The reasons given for this move is that the local councils had not reviewed for the past 15 years and that they are experiencing an annual deficit since 2016. It was reported that as in April 2019 there were 54,792...

Stop killings of elephants in Sabah

admin October 4, 2019 0 Comments

Sabah has made headlines time and again with the deaths of the pygmy elephants. What shocked Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) was the manner in which the poor elephant was brutally gunned down. Not only was it shot at several times, its tusks were also hacked off. The continuous spate of killing of elephants is reflective of poor government delivery system; that it happens often enough can only...

THE UNTOLD SUFFERINGS OF THE VOICELESS

admin October 3, 2019 0 Comments

4th October is World Animal Day and it is a time to pay heed to the suffering of animals. Many animals endured pain and suffering when abused, neglect or cruelly treated by humans. It can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievement, such as killing animals for food, for their fur or even their tusks and body parts and cruelty associated with a given method of...

Consumers Association Penang

Month: October 2019