Wednesday October 13, 2010
JOHOR BARU: Public outrage is mounting over the proposal by the Domestic Trade and Consumerism Ministry to penalise those who buy pirated DVDs and VCDs.
Accountant Ahmad Huzaimi Ghazi, 27, said it was unfair to take legal action on people who buy such DVDs, when original DVDs were too expensive.
“Those who earn a meagre income cannot afford it.
“Pirated DVDs are easy to come by, and if the ministry is serious in stopping the sale of such DVDs, then they must make the original ones more affordable,” he said.
He said the ministry should instead track down the masterminds behind the pirated DVDs syndicates in the country.
Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said recently that buyers of pirated DVDs and VCDs would be fined five times the price of genuine products once the proposed amendments of the Copyright Act were approved.
Another member of the public, who only wished to be known as Affandi, said that penalising the people might be a sign of desperation by the ministry which had failed to detain the syndicates involved.
Johor Baru Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Loh Lian Hang urged the ministry to stop the seller instead of the buyer.
“The ministry should detect and destroy the factories manufacturing such DVDs.
“If they are going after those who buy, are they going into most houses in the country?” he said.
He also urged the ministry to consider all aspects and well-being of the people before amending the laws and penalising the buyers.
