By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 31: The AmBank branch at 4 1/2 Mile of Penrissen Road is considering compensating its client who lost RM32,000 within 15 minutes after 14 online transfers were made without his knowledge.
According to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen (Chieng Jen) who brought the victim, who only wanted to be known as Chong, to meet the general manager of the AmBank branch, the bank is reinvestigating the case and is reconsidering compensation for the victim since he was an innocent party in the case.
This latest update came after Chong had received a notification from the bank that he will not be compensated for his loss.
“Today, the general manager has met up with us but it is also outside his jurisdiction to make a decision as the case involves the whole banking system of the bank. The decision lies with the top management that oversees the whole system,” said Chieng Jen, who is also Padungan assemblyman.
Chieng Jen said he had also written an appeal to the Financial Ombudsman Scheme to claim compensation for Mr Chong.
“We are handling this case with a two-pronged approach. We will continue our effort with the Financial Ombudsman Scheme while at the same time, we will also continue to deal with Ambank.
“If AmBank is willing to compensate for the lost amount, then Chong does not have to go through the long, tedious process in dealing with the Financial Ombudsman Scheme of Bank Negara,” said Chieng Jen who was with the victim at a press conference on DAP Sarawak Facebook’s livestream today in front of the AmBank branch of Penrissen Road.
Chieng Jen said all Chong wanted was to be fairly treated and be given back his hard-earned money which he had entrusted to the bank for safekeeping.
He continued to point out that the bank which has been entrusted with the savings had used it for further investment to generate income and when the money was lost, the bank should not just brush the case aside and claimed “it didn’t know anything about it”.
Chieng Jen who is also Stampin MP also urged Bank Negara to come out with a policy for such cases where if victims can prove their innocence when monies in their bank accounts have been shifted to others’ accounts without their knowledge, the banks should be accountable for the loss of monies deposited.
“Only then banks will be more proactive in enhancing their internet banking system which then will guarantee better security for their clients,” said Chieng Jen.
After Chong’s case was made public, Chieng Jen said he received two more calls complaining of cases of a similar nature where one of the cases involved an individual from Bintulu who lost more than RM70,000 in multiple transfers without the victim’s knowledge.
“This is no longer an isolated case. This is the case involving the whole banking system. It is time for Bank Negara to come out with a policy to protect the account holders of banks and hold banks accountable for the security of their banking system,” claimed Chieng Jen. — DayakDaily
