Consumer Rights Are Protected Rights: Diamond Gold Bracelet Broken Twice. The Perlis Consumer Claims Tribunal Orders Habib Jewels to Issue a Full Refund and Compensation.
- stephenngej
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
PERLIS | 27 April 2026
A consumer from Perlis has successfully sought justice after experiencing repeated damage to a diamond gold bracelet purchased from the Habib Jewels outlets in Kuala Lumpur.
Professor Dr. Samihah Khalil, a former lecturer, bought the diamond gold bracelet for occasional use during festive celebrations and other special occasions. At the time of purchase, the bracelet appeared elegant and lustrous, and its craftsmanship seemed to reflect the high quality associated with the brand. She was reportedly satisfied with the purchase in its initial stages.
However, after being worn only a few times, the bracelet was found to have broken. It was subsequently sent for repair, but Dr. Samihah was surprised to be charged a repair fee. Not long after the bracelet was repaired and worn again, it broke for a second time. This incident became a major source of dissatisfaction, as it required additional time and effort to return to the shop for a second repair.
“A diamond gold bracelet sold to consumers should not break easily, as it is made of gold, a metal that should be sufficiently durable,” she said.
As this was the second occasion on which she was required to pay repair charges, and after attempts to resolve the matter amicably with representatives of Habib Jewels were not to satisfaction, Professor Samihah decided to bring the matter before the Malaysia Consumer Claims Tribunal (TTPM) in Kangar to seek a refund and compensation.
“With the benefit of advice from a friend of mine who is a lawyer in Sabah, Dato’ Sri K. Rakhbir Singh, I decided to file the claim at the TTPM office in Perlis,” she said.
After considering the evidence presented by both parties, the Tribunal issued the following award:
• Habib Jewels was directed to make a full refund of the price of the diamond gold bracelet concerned;
• The full repair charges must be refunded to the consumer; and
• Compensation for the consumer’s travel costs was also ordered.
Professor Samihah expressed satisfaction with the tribunal’s decision, as she successfully recovered the full purchase price, repair costs, and reasonable compensation.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my friend, Dato’ Sri Rakhbir Singh, who provided advice from the very beginning to ensure that the claim form was completed thoroughly, thus assisting the Tribunal in reaching its decision,” she said.
“I would also like to record my appreciation to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) for providing the Consumer Claims Tribunal facility in the state of Perlis. The cost of filing a claim form is only RM5. For the convenience of the public, I also encourage KPDN to consider providing advisory services, including lawyers or trained officers, to assist consumers in completing claim forms more easily and accurately, particularly for senior citizens and those unfamiliar with legal procedures.”
A Reasonable Avenue of Redress
As a woman, Professor Dr. Samihah shared her experience to encourage other consumers — especially women and senior citizens — to come forward and lodge claims when their consumer rights are affected.
“In my case, even after I wrote to Habib Jewels, they still refused to pay compensation, despite requiring me to travel to their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur so that the bracelet could be examined by their experts. This clearly involved additional costs and time,” she explained.
According to Professor Dr. Samihah, in such situations many consumers would have given up. However, she chose to persist in asserting her rightful claim.
“The diamond gold bracelet I purchased was made of pure gold and should not have broken so easily. The seller should also have taken back the bracelet without subjecting the consumer to unnecessary complications and additional expenses,” she said.
She further noted that, on the advice of her lawyer, Dato’ Sri K. Rakhbir Singh, she included a claim for compensation covering travel expenses incurred in visiting the seller’s headquarters.
“This claim was also accepted by the Tribunal as reasonable,” she added.
Professor Dr. Samihah emphasised that sellers must understand that gold jewellery is purchased to be worn safely and to last, not to be repeatedly repaired.
“Based on my experience, I would like to advise consumers not to remain silent when their rights are infringed upon. It is possible to reach a resolution, even against a well-established company, and channels such as the Malaysia Consumer Claims Tribunal (TTPM) have been established to ensure that justice is upheld,” she said.
Issued by:
Professor Dr. Samihah Khalil
25 April 2026
Comments