IPOH, Dec 24 — Consumers who are unhappy about price hikes or the quality of service should take their complaints to the authorities instead of airing their grouses on social media.

This growing habit of complaining over social media has frustrated attempts by the authorities to take action against unscrupulous traders.

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Department (KPDNKK) hopes consumers will change their ways and take their complaints directly to them so appropriate action could be taken.

Speaking to Malay Mail here yesterday, the department's Perak senior assistant director Mojtahidin Isa said enforcement could only be done if consumers raised their complaints directly to the department.

“Complainants who post on social media tend to generalise their complaints,” he said.

“On social media, there are no details which we can use to start action against the alleged offender. We need details from complainants such as the place, name of shop or operator, price charged to the consumer, time (of offence) and other details.”

He said postings on social media showed that a large number of Malaysians were unhappy with businesses which took advantage of them but merely airing their grouses without bringing them to the department would not help resolve their problem.

He said formal channels were available to consumers to lodge complaints with the department, citing the department's toll free number at 1-800-886-800 and http://e-aduan.kpdnkk.gov.my.

Consumers are also encouraged to go to the nearest KPDNKK office to lodge their complaints in person. He gave an assurance that complaints would be investigated if the complainants were able to furnish the required details.

Mojtahidin, who earlier led a team on a spot-check of prices of controlled items at Pasar Besar Ipoh in conjunction with the Christmas celebrations, was asked whether the department had received a high number of complaints from the public on price hikes and poor services.

He said 250 notices had been issued to business owners in Perak this year to explain the increase in prices of goods sold by them. Of this, the department was expected to take action on seven offenders for unsubstantiated rise in goods prices.

He also said more than 100 price checkers have been appointed by the department this year to assist in monitoring prices of goods sold at wet markets in the state.

Mojtahidin said the price checkers were required to go to markets early in the morning and inspect prices and then send their daily reports to the state KPDNKK by 10am.

“We will compile the reports and forward them to our headquarters. This is done on a daily basis and is a practice that is carried out throughout the country.”

On the spot-checks around the state, Mojtahidin said price-control began yesterday and would end on Sunday.

He said prices of controlled items being sold on the first day of the five-day campaign were within the ceiling set by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism.