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MP calls on banks to refund customers quickly

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Chong meeting with Miss Tiong in Selangor to help handle her complaint on RM19,667.79 being transferred out from her bank account without her knowledge and authorization.

KUCHING: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has called on all banks to quickly process requests from their customers to refund money illegally and unknowingly transferred from their accounts. 

He said prompt action by the banks will restore public confidence in the financial institution’s internet security system.

He was referring to a victim of unauthorised and illegal internet bank transfers who finally got her full refund of RM19,667.79 from Maybank after almost five months of distress and anxiety.

“Miss Tiong is a Sarawakian student currently studying in Selangor. She has a savings account with Maybank Berhad.

“Sometime in January, 2022, Miss Tiong discovered that between January 8 to January 17, there were 99 internet transfers of fund from her savings account to some third parties’ accounts.  

“All these internet transfers were carried out without her knowledge or authority and she had not received any OTP messages or notifications from the bank in respect of the said transfers.

“The total amount of the said 99 internet fund transfers was RM19,667.79,” said Chong who is also Padungan assemblyman.

He said she immediately lodged a police report and submitted a claim with the bank for a refund of the amount illegally transferred out from her account. 

“Though the bank promised to investigate the matter within two months, she waited for months and yet there was no response. She subsequently sought help from me.  

“For months, she was under tremendous distress over her loss of RM19,667.79 which was money for her tertiary education. 

“Yesterday, finally, to her relief and delight, she received the full refund of RM19,667.79 from Maybank,” he said,

He also said that after weeks of public pressure on banks to refund their money illegally and unknowingly transferred out from their customers’ account, and the directive issued by Bank Negara to banks to compensate their customers for such unauthorised transfers of funds, finally a positive outcome of this public outcry was seen.

“This is the first case that I have come across in recent months of a bank refunding its customers for the illegal and unauthorised transfers of fund.  

“I am grateful that Maybank has acted positively and fairly in Miss Tiong’s case, though after some delay.”

Chong stressed that the Ministry of Finance and Bank Negara must step up pressure on banks to safeguard the money and interest of customers. 

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