ASTRO's
decision to revoke its initial plan to automatically upgrade customers'
subscription to include the Emperor Package welcome
Press Statement
by John Chung
(Petaling Jaya,
Tuesday):
DAP welcomes ASTRO's decision to revoke its initial plan to automatically
upgrade customers' subscription to include the Emperor Package as it shows
that the satellite TV service provider has finally taken heed of the many
public complaints and grouses against such a plan.
Today's Nanyang Siang Pau had reported that ASTRO will not charge customers'
account for the Emperor Package in the event ASTRO do not hear from them.
We are glad that ASTRO has also taken the necessary steps to alert customers
on the revocation of its earlier plan via announcement on all its Chinese
channels and on its website as well as through letter which will be sent out
to Dynasty Package subscribers this week.
The assurance given by ASTRO that customers' subscription would not be
upgraded unfairly and without their express consent must surely come as a
relief to ASTRO customers. In the very first place, ASTRO should not even
have entertained the thought of employing such unfair and unscrupulous sales
tactic and we certainly hope that such a thing would not happen in future
again.
The DAP had earlier highlighted the issue including lodging a formal
complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. We are
however unhappy that the Ministry did not publicly comment on the issue
which concerns the interest of consumers. In fact, I was informed by a
consumer that he had previously make a complaint to the Ministry about his
dissatisfaction with ASTRO but has yet to receive any reply although six
months had passed!
Instead of keeping mum, the Ministry should display greater vigilance to
ensure that the rights and interests of consumers are protected and
complaints are responded to speedily especially following the call made by
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
yesterday that there should be a certain time frame for government
departments and agencies to respond to public complaints.
(15/4/2003)
* John Chung,
DAP National
Publicity Bureau Assistant Secretary and DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY)
International Secretary
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