Don’t rob Peter to pay Paul


THE sigining of a memorandum of understanding between the government and Pakatan Harapan for reform and political stability is commendable. It will strengthen the democratic foundations of our nation while promising a political ceasefire while we battle Covid 19.

However, there is one item that does not belong in the MOU. It is the promise to waive accrued interest for three months on loans under moratorium for the B50 group.

I say this as a retiree and former bank employee. For 30 years, I worked for one bank. I was not a highly paid executive.

As a bank employee loyal to my employer, with my extra earnings, I bought stock in my bank. Now that I am retired, I rely on the stock dividends while also drawing on my modest savings in the EPF and ASB.

If banks were to waive this interest, it is shareholders like me who will have to bear the cost.

How can the politicians and government force banks to bear this cost? You might say that banks earn billions every year, but these billions of ringgit are paid to thousands of other retirees and shareholders like me. There are also millions of savers who are members of EPF, ASB, etc. which are themselves shareholders of banks. It is our savings and hard-earned money. 

The government must explain what powers it is using to expropriate what belongs to bank shareholders. What happened to article 13 of the constitution on my rights to property?

Either way, banks must bring this matter to their boards and shareholders to vote. In this particular case, the Government has not used its powers to tax, and so has no right to take away our rights. The boards of banks have a fiduciary duty under the Companies Act and they must not accede to this request unless their shareholders approve.

I may have been a lowly officer in a branch, but I know enough about the constitution, corporate governance and my rights as a shareholder.

Shareholders and retirees like me are being deprived of what belongs to us. There are groups of people who are in need of assistance. But to fund this assistance, the government should raise taxes in accordance with the law. Many people, myself included, are happy to voluntarily contribute to funds and other causes to help those in need.

But this must be done properly. We must not rob Peter to pay Paul. – September 19, 2021.

* Salleh Yusof reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.


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Comments


  • A very selfish argument.

    Posted 2 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Perhaps its not so appropriate to talk about robbing but about everyone taking a haircut to help the poor. I think its more of CSR of banks and we can't be selfishly thinking of ourselves at this time. That's why I am disgusted with landlords who refuse to reduce rentals during the MCO when businesses were forced to close, and Govt servants and politicians who are being paid so well to do so little. I think they should all have taken a temporary hair cut. Govt servants didn't have to go to work. They saved money on alot of things like petrol bills, tolls etc when going to work and going home. Surely a token cut will not affect them esp for the mid and top level ones. Now its too late. Everyone is soon going back to work, I hope.

    Posted 2 years ago by Brave Malaysian · Reply

  • You defend the Ah Longs because you have a stake/ share in the Ah Long business is it? Banking institutions need to support the rakyat during this challenging times. I find this argument is selfish and wrong. Banks CEO made millions each year on their remunerations, banks needs to play their part.

    Posted 2 years ago by Noor Azhar Kamaruddin · Reply