KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers should make it a point to compare the prices of goods before making any purchase, said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) Group Communications director Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman.
He said consumers should also make a list of the things they want to buy and spend their money prudently in order to keep their expenses under control.
If they think they were being over-charged by certain traders, they have the right to boycott them and look for alternatives, he told Bernama.
He was commenting on complaints by consumers that prices of goods and services had not reduced in tandem with the drop in fuel prices in the country, following lower world crude oil prices.
On Dec 1 last year, the government introduced the managed float system to allow world fuel prices to determine petrol and diesel prices in Malaysia.
The new system was implemented to enable Malaysians to enjoy lower petrol and diesel prices when world crude oil prices drop.
Mohd Yusof urged consumers to be on the lookout for cheap sales or warehouse sales at shopping centres, where they could purchase things at lower prices.
They could also make some savings on their shopping bills by choosing to patronise the 1Malaysia People’s Shop (KR1M or Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia), which is among various initiatives undertaken by the government to alleviate the people’s burden.
According to a survey by consumers, the prices of KR1M’s wet produce was 10 per cent to 46 per cent lower than market prices.
What’s more, the prices of household necessities carrying the KR1M brandname had not been raised since it was introduced in 2011.
Mohd Yusof hoped that the government would extend KR1M’s chain of outlets throughout the nation, especially in the rural areas.
“Since it may be difficult for those living in kampungs to buy things from KR1M as the shops are mainly located in urban areas, I suggest that KR1M be extended,” he added. — Bernama