Sarawak MP spotlights bank security after unauthorised RM1m withdrawal made from businessman’s account after anonymous phone call

KUCHING, Feb 27 — How was a whopping RM1 million allowed to be withdrawn from a bank account without authorisation from its rightful owner?

The Sarawak DAP raised the question today amid growing concern over unauthorised withdrawals from the bank accounts of Malaysians in the millions of ringgit.

At a news conference here today, DAP politician Michael Kong highlighted the recent case of a businessman who gave his name only as Mr Lee, who lost RM1 million to a Macau syndicate yesterday, through unauthorised transfers from his Maybank account after he received an anonymous phone call from someone who claimed to be from Pos Laju.

“The caller claimed that there was a package for him and asked Mr Lee for his bank’s OTP. Being a savvy businessman, he sensed something was wrong and so he hung up the call,” Kong told reporters.

Lee was also present at the press conference.

“After the call, Mr Lee decided to check his account just to be sure and discovered that a whooping RM1 million was brazenly withdrawn from his Maybank account without his approval or authorisation.

“According to his bank’s records, this was transferred to Celcom Sdn Bhd,” Kong said.

He said the businessman then immediately called to lodge a complaint with the bank and lodged a police report.

He said he accompanied Lee to Maybank to follow up on his complaint lodged yesterday.

“At the same time, we will help Mr Lee to liaise with Celcom to trace the money and have it returned to him.

“This is not even a case where a bank account holder has downloaded some malicious software.

“Mr Lee was merely answering a phone call and yet RM1 million in his bank account was literally stolen from him,” he said.

Kong said banks are supposed to be the safest place to keep people’s savings.

“Now, it seems that even banks are not safe, then where else can we, the common people, keep our savings?” he asked.

Kong, who is a political aide to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, said the latter has promised to raise the issue at the current parliamentary sitting.

“I also call upon Maybank to provide a swift and satisfactory explanation on how could such huge transaction happened?

“The RM1 million was transferred out from Mr Lee’s bank account in two transactions of RM500,000 each.

“No OTP or notification were sent to Mr Lee,” Kong said.

OTP is the abbreviation of “one-time password” that is used by banks as a security feature for online transactions.

Kong said if one were to withdraw RM20,000 cash from his bank account over the counter, most banks nowadays will require the account holder to fill in forms and answer list of questions justifying the withdrawal of the RM20,000.

“If withdrawing even RM20,000 is such a hassle, how could two withdrawals of RM500,000 each could happen within minutes?” he asked.