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Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Mother demands action over alleged abuse at KK daycare centre
Kevin (left) and MTPN Sabah Complaints Bureau officer Michelle Liew Pei Yee (right) with the victim's mother (center) showing the CCTV screenshot of the daycare centre. KOTA KINABALU (June 12): A mother is demanding accountability from a daycare centre for alleged negligence that resulted in her one-year-old daughter suffering trauma and physical injuries. The 30-year-old mother claimed the incident occurred on January 10 this year, between 12.30pm and 5.30pm, while her daughter was under the centre's care. She discovered bruises and a scar on her daughter's back and arm while preparing to bathe her. 'There was a large scar and bruises on her back. I asked my daughter what happened and who did this to her, but she only cried and could not tell me anything,' she said during a press conference at the National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sabah office today. She lodged a police report the next day at the Kota Kinabalu District Police Headquarters and sought medical attention for her daughter at a hospital. Seeking clarification, the mother visited the daycare centre and asked to review the CCTV footage from the day of the incident. 'In the footage, I saw a caretaker grasp my daughter's left hand, lift her off the floor, and place her on a mattress. The same caretaker shoved a milk bottle into her mouth,' she recounted. Despite the footage, the daycare management denied any wrongdoing, placing blame solely on the individual caretaker and refusing to take further responsibility. The mother added that additional footage showed the caretaker hitting her daughter's hand with a mobile phone. However, the area where the most severe injuries occurred was not captured by the CCTV. 'To this day, the centre has not taken any action. They claim there is no clear evidence to justify any disciplinary measures,' she said. 'It seems everyone has given up on helping me. I'm left without answers or cooperation from any involved party.' MTPN Sabah president Kevin Lo Kian Min stated that the council has requested the daycare centre provide a full explanation within three days. Failure to comply will result in a direct meeting for further action. 'We've also requested that the centre present its operational permit and license, as there are claims it may be operating without valid documentation. Concerns were also raised about the centre accepting children outside the permitted age range and those with special needs, potentially violating Social Welfare Department regulations,' he said. Kevin urged authorities to inspect all daycare centres to ensure compliance with legal and safety standards, and emphasized the importance of trained staff and valid licensing. 'We must guarantee the safety of children and uphold consumer rights to increase public awareness and trust,' he added.
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
Couple alleges signature forgery by auto service center, seeks investigation
Mr and Mrs Lim (center) with Michelle (right) and Ethan at the press conference. KOTA KINABALU (May 22): A couple is calling on the relevant authorities to investigate an automotive service center for allegedly forging their signatures on repair documents for their vehicle. Mr and Mrs. Lim said they have been experiencing emotional distress after sending their vehicle for repair at an automotive service center in Inanam on October 11, 2024. 'There was a problem with the vehicle's engine, so I sent it in for repair. After getting the vehicle back, I found that not only was the original problem not resolved, but new issues had also appeared,' Mr. Lim said. He explained that when he returned to the service center to inquire, he was verbally informed that the issue was related to the turbo system, with no mention of the engine. He was also charged RM5,000 for the repair work. 'To this day, I have not received any written report, technical documentation, or official repair proposal from them,' he said when met at the National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sabah on Thursday. Lim said all attempts to seek further clarification from the service center were ignored. 'It feels like this service center doesn't care about its customers and is very unprofessional. This attitude has made me lose all confidence in them, which led me to file a complaint with the Consumer Claims Tribunal on November 19, 2024,' he said. During the tribunal session, Lim was shocked to discover that several documents submitted by the service center contained signatures that did not belong to either him or his wife. 'We believe this automotive service center forged my wife's signature on several documents and presented them to the tribunal to protect themselves. The dates on the alleged signed documents were also suspicious, as we were overseas on those specific days,' he added, noting that a police report had also been lodged. Lim said the tribunal's official decision on January 20, 2025, ordered the service center to bear the full cost of the repair, although no refund was imposed. 'Throughout this ordeal, my wife and I have experienced mental stress due to the poor treatment and irresponsibility of the service center. We feel our rights as consumers have been ignored and violated. 'We filed a complaint with MTPN Sabah to urge them to monitor this service center and take appropriate action to ensure consumer rights are protected and that such incidents do not happen in the future. 'I also urge all service providers in the automotive sector to act responsibly and prioritize honesty and transparency in their dealings with customers,' he said. Meanwhile, Michelle Liew Pei Yee, head of the MTPN Sabah Complaints Bureau, said the organization views this case seriously as it directly impacts consumer rights and the reputation of the service industry. 'We emphasize that all service providers, especially in the automotive sector, must not take customer trust for granted. Transparency, accountability and clear communication are essential to maintain consumer confidence. 'MTPN Sabah will continue to monitor and support all efforts to protect consumer rights and assist those facing similar issues. We also encourage the public not to remain silent, but to come forward and lodge formal complaints when faced with suspicious or unfair situations,' she said. For inquiries or to file a complaint, the public can contact MTPN Sabah at 011-3618 0118. Also present during the briefing was the couple's lawyer, Ethan Liew Kah Wah.
Malay Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Consumer groups back medicine price display rule, say it tackles excessive mark-ups, protects rights
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — The implementation of medicine price display at private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies, effective May 1, has been described as a commendable move to strengthen consumer rights in making informed decisions. National Consumer Action Council deputy president (International Policy and Strategy) Masrudi Abdul Rahman said clear price displays would enable consumers to compare prices and manage their healthcare budgets more efficiently. 'This initiative can also act as an indirect form of health education and serve as a starting point for wider discussions on product effectiveness, safety and whether a particular medicine or supplement is necessary or simply part of a trend,' he told Bernama. The price display requirement is enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Labelling for Medicines) Order 2025, pursuant to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. It applies to all medicines for human use, including controlled medicines, prescription and non-prescription drugs, traditional medicines, health supplements and extemporaneous preparations. Public health policy researcher from the People's Health Forum Dr Lim Chee Han said a study on Medicine Price Monitoring in Malaysia conducted by the Health Ministry in 2022 showed that high medical costs and medicine prices stemmed from a lack of pricing transparency. 'Patients often learn the price of their medicines only after receiving the bill, which is unfair. This practice has become normalised in the medical sector. 'According to the study, price mark-ups could reach up to 200 per cent, a key factor contributing to high medical costs, which is unacceptable,' he said when contacted. He expressed hope that the implementation of the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism would help curb excessive pricing by empowering consumers to make price comparisons. Meanwhile, several consumer organisations said in a joint statement that the new law is a critical step toward addressing the longstanding issues of price opacity and wide price variations that have disadvantaged consumers, and stressed that it must not be confused with price control. 'It is the fundamental right of a consumer to be informed, to be heard, to choose and to be safe with the goods which they consume. Medicines are an essential good where there is information asymmetry in their provision and consumption,' according to the statement. The statement was jointly issued by the Consumers' Association of Penang, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, Persatuan Pengguna Luar Bandar dan Ekologi Malaysia, Teras Pengupayaan Melayu and Persatuan Keselamatan Pengguna Kuala Lumpur. They said that the price display mechanism addresses the fundamental right of the consumer or patient to be informed about the good being purchased. 'This policy focuses solely on the pricing of medicines, not on the fees or income of healthcare professionals such as doctors. 'Doctors' earnings relate to consultation fees, operational costs, and remuneration, which are separate financial considerations, involving different revenue streams, coming under different ministries and under different policy and regulatory frameworks,' according to the statement. — Bernama
