SHAH ALAM, Aug 2 — Imported electronics without Sirim certification not only disrupt market balance, but carry serious safety risks for users, said an industry player.
The dumping of these non-compliant products, purchased on e-commerce sites, present hidden dangers and needs immediate action by the government and industry players, said Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Electrical Home Appliances Dealers’ Association (SWEDA) president Yap Ming Sin.
Yap shared an incident at one of the association’s stores where a customer brought in a hairdryer, purchased online, as it was producing sparks and not working. Checks found that the item lacked basic systems such as grounding and overload safeguards, and was not compliant with local electrical safety standards.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries, but this incident clearly shows the importance of a Sirim certification,” he said.
He also revealed that many SWEDA members have handled cases of current leakage and short circuits caused by uncertified electronics purchased online.
Market imbalance affects legitimate traders
Yap said legitimate traders must bear safety compliance, product guarantee, and energy efficiency costs to ensure compliance with local laws and consumer needs. However, unregulated products sold by parallel imports or illegal traders online evade checks and taxes, and are thus available at lower prices.
“This situation not only affects the business continuity of honest traders, but delays the comprehensive development of industry standard developments,” he said, adding that only by encouraging fair competition can sustainable industry development and consumer rights be guaranteed.
Yap emphasised that SWEDA is committed to promoting the use of Sirim-certified products, and encouraging consumers to make purchases via recognised, legitimate channels.
Three-pronged approach: Oversight, education, technology
Though SWEDA supports e-commerce growth and understands youths’ need to buy goods quickly and easily, Yap said there must not be compromise on safety.
Among SWEDA’s recommendations are:
— Cooperate with the government to tighten enforcement and monitoring on the sales of illegal goods
— Simplify Sirim’s certification procedure to facilitate accreditation for legitimate suppliers and brands
— Widen QR code use for public awareness materials to help consumers identify accredited products
He also said the group is working with several parties on an awareness campaign on social media, themed “One Sticker Protects the Whole Family”, and has partnered with e-commerce platforms to more clearly differentiate legitimate sellers.
Compulsory certification, public complaints channel
Yap also suggested Sirim certification be made compulsory for high-risk electronics such as water heaters, air conditioners, and hairdryers. He also recommended that the government set up a complaints channel for consumers to report suspicious products.
“Only through cooperation between the government, industry and consumers on policy, marketing and awareness can we truly protect users’ safety and ensure the continuity of a fairer, more competitive local electronics industry,” Yap said.
