THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is shocked to note that telecommunication companies in Malaysia were fined RM50 million last year for shortchanging consumers, as mentioned by the energy, water and communications minister on Aug 19.

Apparently, it is more profitable for the telcos to pay the fines and continue providing poor services instead of improving. At the end of the day, it is the consumers' money that goes towards these fines.

Revoking their licences might be a better option.

CAP calls on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to disclose the profits made by these companies along with the fines imposed and the reasons for the fines.

Consumers can then decide whether to migrate to other service providers, although the choices are limited.
Newspapers are filled with complaints by customers relating their nightmare expe-riences with telcos.

CAP also receives a deluge of complaints, which range from interrupted services, poor quality and slow service and rude and unprofessional handling of complaints to exorbitant and unnecessary charges.

CAP has brought these complaints to the attention of the MCMC. Each time, we were told that MCMC had regular meetings with the service providers and they were being monitored. However, the pro-blems continue unabated.

MCMC should go beyond just having discussions.

They should investigate the causes of the inability of these telcos to provide the expected level of services, and whether these problems have to do with the equipment, cable connectivity or expertise.

CAP urges the ministry to end the monopoly enjoyed by certain companies. At the same time, it should allow more submarine cables on our shores to improve connectivity with the rest of the world.