Tribunal ineffective, awards a sham
The Star 14/01/2006

THE Consumer Claims Tribunal was set up in 1999 to provide consumers a simple and quick method for redress when business people fail to deliver their promises or breach their contracts.

A recent news report stated that tribunal rulings were ignored as companies were not settling awards.

Arrogant defiance of the tribunal’s awards with total impunity is very common and makes the awards a sham.

The Government’s promise of a quick method for redress is not fulfilled.

It is a fallacy to judge the successes of the tribunal by the rising number of cases being taken to them. If the tribunal system were effective, the number should have started to go down. To-date there has been no reported case of award defaulters being taken to court.

The tribunal system should be proactive. The party against whom an award is made should be required to furnish proof of compliance with the award.

Firm, swift action is needed to put fear of the law in non-respecters of the law.


SM MOHAMED IDRIS,
President,
Consumers Association of Penang.