No Need To Rush Lemon Law - Experts

With approximately 2.4 million people purchasing a new or used car each year, even if just 1% of those purchased a defective vehicle, that would result in approximately 24,000 dissatisfied customers, according to Tony Khor, the president of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia.
In light of this, Armizan Ali, the minister of domestic trade and cost of living (KPDN), announced two temporary measures to protect consumers' rights to compensation, especially when it comes to automotive purchases, before a new legal framework for lemon law was finalized.

Nonetheless, according to legal experts, the current laws are adequate to safeguard consumers, so there is no need to rush the lemon law that is being considered for car buyers, as reported by The Star.
According to Salim Bashir, the former president of the Malaysian Bar, minor changes could improve consumer protection by strengthening current laws like the Sale of Goods Act 1957, Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA), Contract Act 1950, Control of Supplies Act 1961, and Hire Purchase Act 1967.

On the other hand, former Bar Council president Datuk Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor expressed his support for a lemon law that applies specifically to automobiles. Although the Sale of Goods Act and the CPA provide some consumer protection, they are vague about how to handle persistent car flaws, leaving customers without obvious solutions.

Although a lemon law may have some advantages, he cautioned against unforeseen repercussions like a rise in lawsuits and higher expenses for both consumers and companies. "To balance consumer rights with business interests and prevent a negative economic impact, careful implementation with clear guidelines is essential," he added.