The Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) of the Ministry of Finance and Economy recently launched the upgraded Pegguna Bijak mobile application with more interactive features, in an effort to further foster awareness of consumer rights among Bruneians.
The launching of the upgraded application was officiated by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah during the Local Products Expo 2022 held at the Bridex Hall in Jerudong last week.
The mobile application is a digital platform that provides consumer information relating to the Price Control Act, Chapter 42 and the Consumer Protection Order (Fair Trading), 2011 while also providing a channel for consumers to make formal complaints in relation to unethical business practices.
According to the DEPS, the upgrade of the Pengguna Bijak application puts emphasis on improving the user experience and visibility of user information, with an updated look, new interactive features, dual language options of Bahasa Melayu and English, as well as a more organised arrangement of information.
In an interview with The Bruneian, a representative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Mohammad Hazman Hj Ali said that the newly improved Pengguna Bijak application aims to empower its users with more consumer information that is relevant and practical for daily use.
One of the new functions, added Mohammad Hazman, includes the 1-2-Compare which enables users to make price comparisons for over 180 household items that have been voluntarily shared by retailers, allowing users to compare prices of items between districts.
“We hope that with this upgrade, consumers will be able to use the app daily and be more informed so they can exercise their consumer rights to compare items or even to complain if there are any disputes. This would hopefully allow them to empower themselves as consumers,” he said.
He also shared that since the application’s introduction in 2016, Pengguna Bijak has been downloaded more than 38,000 times, which he believed is a positive indication of the demand for consumer information as well as increasing awareness of consumer rights among Bruneians.
“The department has initially set a target of five thousand downloads per year, but we have exceeded that target and we hope more members of the public would download the application and use it in their daily lives,” he continued.
Present as guests of honour at the launch were Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhomat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf Haji Metussin and Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Ahmaddin Haji Abdul Rahman.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
