Consumer group adopts more aggressive plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI), which
\ncelebrated its 21st anniversary this month, is planning to adopt
\na new, less conventional approach in pushing for greater consumer
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
The foundation needs new strategies to strengthen its function
\nas an organization which supports consumers, its executive
\ndirector Zumrotin K.S. said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"We can't depend on our conventional ways anymore. To tell you
\nthe truth I feel frustrated because we have stayed too long with
\nour conventional ways,\" she told reporters.<\/p>\n
She did not disclose the new approaches being planned.<\/p>\n
Az. Nasution, who chairs the foundation's plenary council,
\nsaid the group plans to encourage people in Indonesia to insist
\non their rights as consumers.<\/p>\n
Indonesian consumers should bear in mind that they have the
\nright to consume safe goods and use public transportation
\nfacilities. \"We also have our rights, just as we have duties.
\nDon't just accept everything,\" he said.<\/p>\n
YLKI has been pressing the government and the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) to enact legislation on consumer protection
\nand liabilities of manufacturers and sellers of their products
\nand services.<\/p>\n
The point was raised again on Saturday by Nasution who called
\nthe government irresponsive to its demands, leaving consumers
\nvirtually unprotected from the exploits and abuses of
\nmanufacturers and sellers.<\/p>\n
In the absence of such legislation, developers are selling
\nhouses in areas which are prone to floods although their
\nadvertisements suggest that they are flood free, he said.<\/p>\n
Advertisements by drug producers very often also mislead the
\npublic, he said.<\/p>\n
A law on consumer protection would allow the people to sue
\ncompanies for supplying poor quality products, Nasution said.<\/p>\n
Nasution added that the foundation sent a draft on consumer
\nprotection law as far back as 1980 to the National Law
\nSupervision Agency (BPHN). In 1992, YLKI, the Ministry of Trade
\nand the University of Indonesia wrote another draft.<\/p>\n
It is now entirely up to the government to improve on the
\ndraft and present it to the DPR for deliberation, he said.<\/p>\n
Since 1973, the foundation has been conducting research,
\neducation, information and publication activities in addition to
\norganizing cooperation with other non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
YLKI has branches in Medan, North Sumatra, Yogyakarta and
\nUjungpandang in South Sulawesi. (par)<\/p>",
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