Consumers foundation stresses its impartiality
Consumers foundation stresses its impartiality
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation stressed
yesterday it received complaints with an open mind so as not to
be exploited by business rivals.
Foundation chief Tini Hadad said the foundation was always
wary of the possibility that a complaint was filed by a business
group aiming to discredit competitors.
"With their complaint lodged with the foundation and published
in the media, people hope these products won't sell," she was
quoted as saying by Antara.
She said her organization verified the name and address of
consumers who filed complaints before deciding whether to act.
"We ignore all anonymous complaints on the assumption they
come from a manufacturer who wants to discredit his or her
competitors," she said.
Last year the most complaints lodged with the foundation dealt
with the unsatisfactory quality of biscuits, syrup, dates,
drinking chocolate, formula milk, bottled water, meat, soft
drinks, chili sauce and cakes.
Tini said consumers reported the goods they had bought were
beyond their sell-by date, stank and were distasteful.
Presenting the foundation's assessment of this year's public
services, Tini noted "significant improvements" over last year in
the recent Idul Fitri transport services.
At Jakarta's Pulogadung bus terminal, for example, transport
authorities built more entrances and exits for buses to reduce
congestion.
She also praised the government for its ability to control
prices of basic household goods shortly before and after the Idul
Fitri holiday.
"Last year, prices around the Idul Fitri holiday season rose
by up to 100 percent.
"The government has succeeded in stabilizing prices of
foodstuffs this year as it provided more than enough supplies for
the Idul Fitri season," she added.
Tini said the state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom
should improve its services as it ranked third after housing and
electronic products in terms of the number of consumer complaints
received this year. (imn)