KUCHING, July 11: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen wants Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to speak up on rampant Internet bank fraud cases in the coming Parliamentary sitting.
He said due to the banks’ refusal to take responsibility over these fraud cases, he has submitted three parliamentary questions on this issue and is expecting an oral reply from the Finance Minister.
Among the questions was to ask the Finance Minister to state the total amount of money which was transferred from bank depositors’ accounts without their knowledge for the years 2021 and 2022.
He also asked on the measures that the government and Bank Negara Malaysia would take to resolve these fraud cases and to restore public confidence over the safety of their deposits in the banks.
Apart from that, he also wants to ask the Finance Minister to state the statistics concerning complaints lodged with the Ombudsman for Financial Services and the decisions of the Ombudsman on these complaints, including the percentage of the decisions favouring the banks or the complainants.
“In the face of the rampant Internet banking fraud cases where depositors’ money was withdrawn from their accounts through the Internet and without their knowledge, it is most irresponsible of a finance minister to be keeping absolutely quiet on this issue.
“These days, the public are worried about their money in the bank, not knowing when they will fall victim to these Internet banking frauds and that their life-long savings would be gone,” he said in a statement dated yesterday (July 10).
Chong who is the Stampin MP further said that among fraud victims who sought his help were small-time businessmen, bank managers, former bank officers, retired government servants and teachers.
“Some had their savings transferred out without their knowledge and authorisation, some even had fixed deposits stolen, some had their credit cards charged without their knowledge and authorisation, and when they informed the bank at the first instance, the bank still insisted that they pay for the fraudulently charged amount,” he added.
Chong also observed that these frauds appeared to have two common features whereby the crimes were done through Internet, and the banks will invariably push the responsibilities and losses onto the depositors or the cardholders.
“Given their (victims’) diverse backgrounds, their misfortune has clearly told us that anyone may fall victim to these Internet banking frauds.
“If the Ministry of Finance and the government of the day refuse to impose the responsibility on the banks, the banks will just adopt the ‘none of my business and couldn’t care less’ attitude and push all the losses to their customers.
“In the past, we thought banks are the safest place to keep our hard-earned money. Now even banks are not safe. Where will this leave us the innocent and defenceless public?” he questioned. — DayakDaily
