KUALA LUMPUR, 12 June: The answer provided by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Ahmad Maslan, regarding the Bank Rakyat scandal, involving a businessman, does not answer questions raised but also raises many questions.
The Member of Parliament for Sepang, Hanipa Maidin, said that Ahmad’s answer does not thoroughly explain, especially why the bank does not require a profit from the loan extended.
“If a loan does not require repayment profits, it is a failure to the bank. This shows that the bank provided a loan without thinking of profits because in every of the institutions transaction, they have to think of deposits and they have rights in every investment,” he said, quoted from Harakah Daily.
Ahmad, during the winding-up of the Supplementary Supply Bill 2014, said that it is common procedure for a bank to get back loans which are categorised as ‘Non Performing Loans’ (NPL).
He said that the bank has the responsibility to recover the money loaned to avoid losses, and repayment, without interest, is the best decision from the bank.
At the same time, Hanipa also questioned a matter for a long time, however, until now, Bank Rakyat has not issued any statement.
“We are also wondering why Deepak Jaikishnan is so invincible and special to be given such privilege despite the many expose he has done involving the top leadership of the country.
“What is certain is that the minister’s answer is not convincing. It is only an answer that does address the questions raised,” he said.
Prior to that, the Member of Parliament for Pokok Sena, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, during the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2014, also questioned the disclosure made by the Chairman of Bank Rakyat, Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, who was fired for not agreeing with orders from the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Datuk Sri Hasan Malek, regarding the settlement of the RM32 million debt.
Ahmad, who answered the question, informed that the allegations are not true, in addition to saying that Sabbaruddin also said that his statement was manipulated by media from the opposition.
In addition, he also explained that intervention from a minister in Bank Rakyat’s business has also received denial from the minister.
“There is no similar payment as the one borrowed, we have added them all. If an individual says so, he is really confused.
“There is no problem with a post-dated cheque, as long as he pays. Claims that there was ministerial intervention are not true. I have asked the minister and he is willing to be investigated,” he said.
