KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen who has been vocal about internet banking fraud is taking it up to the next level.
Chong, who is Stampin MP, said due to banks’ refusal to take responsibility for such fraud cases, he had submitted three parliamentary questions on this issue for the coming parliamentary sitting.
They are scheduled to be presented in parliament on July 25 and 26 for oral replies from the Finance Minister.
“My question is to ask the Finance Minister to state the total amount of money which was transferred from the bank depositors’ account without their knowledge for the year 2021 and 2022,” he said in a statement on Today (July 11).
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“The second question will be to ask the Finance Minister to state what measures will the government and Bank Negara take to resolve the rampant internet banking fraud and fraudulent internet deposit withdrawal from the accounts of the depositors.
“What will the government do to restore public confidence on the safety of their deposits in the banks.
“And the last question is to ask the Finance Minister to state the statistics of the 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,” he said.
Chong said in the face of the rampant internet banking fraud cases where depositors’ money were withdrawn from their accounts through the internet and without their knowledge, it is most irresponsible of a Finance Minister to be keeping absolutely quiet on this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.
He said businessmen, a bank manager, former bank officers, retired government servants and teachers had fallen victim to internet banking fraud recently and had sought help from him on the matter.
“Some had their savings transferred out without their knowledge and authorisation, some even had their fixed deposit stolen, some had their credit card 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 said.
He said there are two common features, namely, whether it is money stolen from their accounts or their credit cards charged without their knowledge, all these crimes were done through the internet; and the banks invariably push the responsibilities and losses to the depositors or the cardholders.
“Given their 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 would just adopt the ‘none of my business and couldn’t care less’ attitude and push all the losses to their customers,” he said.
In the past, he said banks are the safest place to keep hard-earned money, but 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 whether their life-long savings would be gone.
“Even banks are not safe. Where will this leave us the innocent and defenceless public?,” he asked.
