Quality of postal services has declined

THE Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has received many complaints about the late arrival of local as well as overseas mail. The quality of our postal services has been on the decline for some time.

One of CAP’s complainants subscribes to The Guardian Weekly magazine mailed from London by first class air mail.

Off and on, he receives the issues of the magazine in a haphazard manner. The earlier issues sometimes arrive at about the same time as later issues, taking about three to five weeks to arrive.

CAP took up the matter with The Guardian. The British media company then performed a distribution check and found that the Malaysian postal system is responsible for the delays.

Such delays should not happen with any class of Pos Malaysia mail but especially not with first class air mail which is charged higher rates.

CAP subscribes to several local and foreign magazines and newspapers and has encountered similar problems on a number of occasions.

Two years back, ordinary mail was delayed by three weeks before the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri holidays.

CAP urges the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to hold an inquiry and monitor postal services to ensure that Pos Malaysia follows international best practices.

The quality of our postal services should not be compromised just because other communication methods are evolving.

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS President Consumers’ Association of Malaysia