INVESTORS with stakes in JJPTR were calm at the headquarters of the troubled forex trading outfit on Jalan Perak in George Town today.

No one looked particularly upset or worried. They went into the office above a shop lot, sat down with the staff, asked questions, filled up forms, and left.

No one raised their voices to demand their money back, although they had all heard and read about JJPTR’s trading accounts being hacked into and the possibility that the company might have lost up to US$400 million (RM1.7 billion).

“I asked the staff about the current situation at the company and my investment.

“The staff said we had to wait for the boss’ announcement and update on what he was going to do and about the new investment plan,” one investor said 

The man in his 50s, who gave his surname Khor, said he was not angry at the company.

“I don’t feel angry. What’s the point when I can’t do anything about it?

“My investment is just a few hundred ringgit as I have just started. I got my returns for the last two or three months.”

Khor was there with his elderly mother, who had struggled up the stairs. She had not invested.

“The staff didn’t say if my son will get his money back. Nor did she say he won’t get a sen back.

“But no point getting upset over things you can’t do anything about,” she agreed with her son.

Another investor who was told that the forms were for those who had not yet broken even on their investments, was satisfied to hear that a new plan was in the offing.

“I came when I heard about the trouble. I saw the news, read some bad things about the company. So I came today to ask what was going on. 

“Many people are saying all sorts of things, especially on the internet, putting up stories, allegations, videos… all just to get clicks so their own sites make money.

“I don’t want to fall for any of that. Inaccurate information makes matters worse,” he said before leaving.

The office was open from 1pm for investors to come in with their queries. The staff, mostly in their 20s, were friendly and helpful.

A JJPTR employee told The Malaysian Insight that the clients had been understanding, although a few were upset and anxious after reading news reports early this week.

He admitted there were uncertainties because of the negative reports and rumours going around.

Those out to make trouble, he said, were “keyboard warriors” that had been attacking JJPTR since it started business two years ago, and the person who had hacked into the company’s trading accounts and caused ing the losses. 

“Most investors were understanding when we explained the problem to them. They are just concerned about their money, not out to make trouble for the staff.

“Our clients are not those who have sold their property or used their life savings to invest. The investment plan involves small amounts, with the maximum fixed at US$1,000 (RM4,450).”

Investors who went to the office, he said, would be given a form to fill with to information on their investments to enable the staff to quickly process. 

“The priority now, as the boss has said, is to pay back those who have not made back their capital.”

Asked if he knew where JJPTR founder Johnson Lee was and what he was up to, he said the boss was likely in Kuala Lumpur.

But the staff, too, were in the dark about what the 28-year-old Lee was planning to do, especially now that a police report had been lodged against JJPTR in Johor.

“The report could make things harder. The boss has to deal with it. We are all waiting for his latest announcement like the investors.

“I hear it is coming today, a voice or video recording like before.

“We just know he is working on a new plan. Whatever it is, I believe it will still be better than what the banks’ FD (fixed deposit interest rate) offers,” said the young man, who declined to be named.

He added that his boss was “close to the clients” and often reached out to them directly.

“So, sometimes the investors know the latest news before we do. He hasn’t broken his promises so far.”

He said in Malaysia, JJTPR had more than 400,000 investors whose total investments were more than US$400 million. 

JJPTR, which started business in May 2015, guarantees investors a  20% monthly return on a minimum US$25 and maximum US$1,000 investment.

Early investors have mostly broken even, but later investors are now worried they may not get their capital back. – April 28, 2017.