05/10/2025

ON SUNDAY October 5, 2025 theSunday Special VIII

You, me and the law we often forget From online rants to salary slips, our daily lives are more legally bound than we realise

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BY ASHRAF WAHAB

OU may be familiar with the law in Malaysia. After all, you pay taxes, drive to work, shop online and swipe your credit card. Yet, numerous little

comprehensive federal law protecting consumers in this sector. Instead, practice is guided by Bank Negara guidelines. That will change when the Consumer Credit Act, expected to come into force in 2025, WDNHV H̆ HFW The new law will establish a Consumer Credit Commission to regulate credit pro viders, including banks, BNPL platforms DQG KLUH SXUFKDVH ¿UPV ,W ZLOO HQIRUFH fair debt collection practices, such as requiring authorised debt collectors to display their identity cards, providing prior notice before collection, and banning harassment. It will also impose consumer

known legal details quietly impact daily life. Some laws are decades old, while others are brand new. Either way, many urbanites only discover their impact when something goes wrong. Credit card and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) regulations Most Malaysians use credit cards or BNPL schemes. However, there is currently no

Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010: Your credit data is regulated If you have checked your CCRIS or CTOS report, you may not know that credit reporting agencies are regulated under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010 (Act 710). They must be registered, ensure accuracy, provide a complaints procedure DQG SURWHFW FRQ¿GHQWLDOLW\ This means you have a statutory right to correct errors in your credit record. Many assume banks alone are responsible, but the Act places accountability on the agencies themselves. Employment Act 1955: Wider coverage and gig-worker protections Many white-collar workers once assumed the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) only applied to those earning under RM2,000 a month. That is no longer the case. Amend PHQWV H̆ HFWLYH IURP -DQXDU\ ZLWK further updates in 2025, extend coverage to all employees regardless of wage level,

data protection measures in line with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Few cardholders realise they currently have minimal legal recourse if disputes arise. Consumer Protection Act 1999: Rights when buying goods or services Consumers have more rights than they often realise. Under the Consumer Protec tion Act 1999 (Act 599), buyers can claim refunds or compensation for mislead ing descriptions, poor-quality goods or unsatisfactory services, including those made through online purchases. A claim can be filed at the Tribunal for Consumer Claims for just RM5. If both parties agree, the Tribunal issues an award in the form of a refund, repair or replacement. Many people are aware that they can take a case to court, but few realise there is a simpler and more FRVW H̆ HFWLYH DOWHUQDWLYH