YLKI told to fight harder for consumer protection

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation has been urged to be more aggressive in its fight for greater consumer protection.

Noted economist Didiek J. Rachbini said at a panel discussion yesterday that the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) should pay more attention to issues which have social, economic and political implications.

The discussion, chaired by senior journalist Fikri Djufri, was held in conjunction with YLKI's 24th anniversary which falls on Sunday.

Among the speakers were Indonesian Retailers Association chairman Steve Sondakh, former YLKI chairperson Zumrotin K. Soesilo, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade's director of trade Ismail Din Wahab.

Didiek said, "There are many crucial matters that affect consumers' rights such as land and housing ownership."

YLKI should also be active in protecting consumers against government policies which favor businesspeople, Didiek said.

Consumers, he said, must be educated and prepared to face an era of stiffer competitive. "... the Indonesian market will be flooded by products from domestic and foreign sources. If local consumers are not aware of their rights, they will be easily cheated by producers," Didiek said.

Consumers should remember they have the right to sound goods, to receive excellent service and to be protected, he added.

Since l973, YLKI has been conducting research, information dissemination and publication activities in addition to working with other domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations.

"After 24 years of operation, YLKI must have a more high-level lobbying with government agencies and in the business circle," Didiek said.

YLKI chairperson Tini Hadad admitted it was extremely difficult to teach local consumers to be more critical.

"Many of them are used to accepting any irregularities. They are not used to protesting if they do not receive the best public service, such as in the case of the recent electricity blackout," Tini said.

The foundation filed a lawsuit against state-owned electricity company PLN on May 1 for an eight-hour blackout last month.

The foundation, represented by the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute leveled the charge in a class action suit.

"This suit is important in order to make people realize that it is their right to receive the best service from any public service company," Tini said.

However, she admitted it was still very hard to take legal action against a company.

"We still don't have any law on consumer protection. Our legal standing would be stronger if a consumers law were passed," she said.

The agency has unsuccessfully struggled for the issuance of the law since l980 when a draft on consumer protection was first submitted.

YLKI's campaign for the law received tepid response from the House of Representative and no action has been taken.

"It is up the government's political will to pass a law on consumer protection," Tini said. (raw/icn)