LABUAN: A consumer advocate here described as “strange” the advice by the Consumer Claims Tribunal in Kota Kinabalu to the media not to name those found guilty in cases brought against them by aggrieved consumers.

Julias Elias asked since when the Consumer Tribunal, which is tasked with protecting the interests of the public, suddenly decide to side with cheats and others who preyed on innocent consumers.

“It defeats the whole purpose of having the Tribunal set up in the 1990s, where then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir said the aim was to name and shame offenders as a deterrent to others who might do the same,” he said.

Julius was referring to recent report in Daily Express where a used car dealer was told to refund RM1,000 deposit to a customer.