THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry says there is a need to create a more sophisticated and competent e-complaint system to allow members of the public to channel complaints or suggestions. 

Its minister Salahuddin Ayub said the move is to provide convenience to consumers and speed up action by the ministry. 

“For example, when I made a surprise visit to the ministry’s Johor office today, I met a consumer who came from Kluang just to lodge a complaint to the consumer tribunal. They should not have to travel the distance just to make a complaint,” he told a press conference at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri, today. 

“I will first discuss with the ministry to see the expertise available. There are many advanced applications these days that we can adopt for the convenience of consumers,” he said.

The Pulai MP said complaints received from the public need to be dealt with immediately to protect consumer rights.

Salahuddin, who is also Simpang Jeram assemblyman, said he would increase the frequency of his spot checks, including to rural areas, to survey the supply and prices of eggs and subsidised cooking oil packets in the market.

Commenting on his meeting with Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Salahuddin said the ruler decreed that the four cabinet members from Johor could play a role to improve the image, economy and socio-political scene of Johor. 

“It was a heart-to-heart discussion and there was also mention of the role of the ministry that I lead, and the rest were political issues. I did not expect the meeting to be so casual, yet the sultan of Johor was very focused and serious about discussing the people’s issues,” he said.

In other developments, Salahuddin, who is also the Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng has been appointed as the new Johor opposition leader to replace Perling assemblyman Liew Chin Tong, who has been appointed as Salahuddin’s deputy in the cabinet.

“The appointment has been informed to the speaker of the Johor Legislative Assembly Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi today. Johor PH is grateful for the excellent service provided by Liew, who is also Johor DAP chairman, while serving as the opposition leader after the last Johor elections,” he said. – Bernama, December 11, 2022.