KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysians are drawing up lists before shopping, improving their budgeting and generally exhibiting better consumer behaviour in the face of rising prices.

National 3K coordinator Paul Selvaraj said the National Consumer Campaign (3K), in existence for a year, had proved successful in getting participants to review their role as consumers in the larger perceptive.

He said although there were still consumers who blamed the government each time the price of goods went up, there were many who realised that they could make a difference by changing their lifestyle.

"People are learning. They tell us that they can change and are following our practical tips and those which are convenient to them," he said.

"Among things people are doing now include preparing a list when they go shopping, realising that there are things called house brands and are not equating brands with quality," he added.

Under the campaign, training and knowledge is provided to the people, mainly in the rural and suburban areas, where they are taught their rights and responsibilities as consumers, mindful consumption, financial management, and how to complain and seek redress.

It has also seen different monthly campaigns including No Television Week, Protecting Children and Buy Nothing Day.

The latest are competitions, mostly aimed at youths, to shoot a minute-long video or send a multimedia messaging system (MMS) on consumer-related issues.

"They could send MMS or videos on expiry dates, water and electricity savings, collecting rain water or the changes they have seen as consumers," he said, adding that cash prizes of up to RM5,000 (SGD2059.50) will be given for the best video.

Paul said in the long term, the campaign aimed to produce consumers who were responsible and resilient.

"The attitude now is that whenever the prices of things go up, we expect the government and only it to do something.

"But, we have to realise that in the current world, the government can only do so much and there are limited means for its intervention."

He said only changes in lifestyle, the real strength of consumers, will affect the price of items.

"When the price of an item goes up, consumers should reduce their consumption. And when demand goes down, so will the price," he added.

The toughest battle of the campaign, Paul said, is getting the younger generation to change.

"The young today are very material-driven, with even a six-year-old knowing brands and wanting to be associated with it. It is tough to get them to be critical of the media, be realistic and change consumption patterns," he said.

"Things will get tougher, whether we like it or not and the ability of government to intervene will reduce.

"Ultimately, consumers will have to change," he added.

3K is a four-year awareness and education campaign by the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association (FOMCA) on the theme "Change Begins With Me".

Examples of desired changes in consumers include changing to cheaper brands, eating in more than out, reducing luxuries, choosing cheaper hotels, recycling and using more public transportation.

Supporting the campaign are the Malaysian Youth Council, National Council of Womens Organisations and the Congress of Unions of Employees of Public and Civil Service.

--NST