WHEN Malaysians walk into a telecommunications shop to subscribe to a home or mobile service, the expectation is simple: we are purchasing a vital utility, much like electricity or water.
We are signing up to receive a reliable digital lifeline, not signing away our freedom or becoming legally shackled to a corporation.
Yet, walk into any telco provider today and consumers are treated not as valued clients but as a captive audience.
At the heart of this issue are rigid multi-year contracts, typically locked in for two to three years. If left unregulated, these mandatory lock-in periods threaten to stretch even further, potentially trapping subscribers for up to five years.
