KUALA LUMPUR – Adding new regulations under existing laws to protect consumers facing defects with their newly-bought vehicles will be faster than enacting a new Lemon Law, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said.
The ministry is considering this route to provide consumers swifter remedies and avenues to make claims against car manufacturers, he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
“While we are doing a feasibility study on a Lemon Law, it doesn’t mean we will necessarily enact a new law, we may want to strengthen existing laws instead.
“We also have to consider the process, instead of amending laws or enacting a new law, we can introduce new regulations under Act 599 to enable consumers have their claims dealt with faster… as an immediate remedy (for them),” Armizan said, referring to the Consumer Protection Act 1999 during Parliament’s question time today.
He was replying to a supplementary question by Lim Lip Eng (Kepong-PH), who asked for speedier protection for consumers who bought substandard or defective new vehicles, instead of having to go through arbitration or tribunal processes.
Armizan also said the government was looking at new regulations to protect consumers who buy vehicles costing more than RM500,000.
This is because under present law, claims in consumer tribunals can only be filed for not more than RM500,000.
“If they buy a new car (with defects) that costs more, we have to act swiftly to ensure that the consumer is protected,” the minister said in reply to a supplementary question by Roslan Hashim (Kulim-Bandar Baharu-PN).
Roslan had asked if Malaysia’s version of a Lemon Law or regulations would protect buyers of used cars.
To this, Armizan said the ministry is looking at “best practices” in similar laws in the US, Canada, Singapore and the Philippines.
“We cannot wait for a new law or amendment, so at this stage we are looking at adding regulations (to existing laws) so that we can protect consumers’ interests.”
In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Syahredzan Johan (Bangi-PH) had also asked about a Lemon Law that would allow consumers compensation and other remedies for vehicles that repeatedly break down or fail to meet quality standards.
Malaysia does not have a specific Lemon law but affords limited protection to consumers through a few acts. – March 19, 2024