Letter to Editor
LIKE many Malaysians, I was abhorred by the clip of a homeless man being abused on the five-foot way of an AmBank branch in Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur.
Yes, details and background story remain sketchy. Regardless, is this the way Malaysians treat a fellow human being? By hosing him down and kicking him like he was a stray dog?
The video has since gone viral with many citizens asking is this the state of the country now?
The bank’s response to the incident leaves plenty to be desired. Fearful of the public relations fall-out, the financial institution has issued an apology before adding the caveat that the security guard was employed by a vendor (an external security firm).
AmBank further stated that it is cooperating fully with the authorities as investigations proceed while pointing out that it aims to prevent similar incidents in future.
Such is the usual ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again” response. Where is the offer to help the homeless individual? This is where AmBank had the opportunity to flex its CSR (corporate social responsibility) muscles and put a positive spin on events.
Yes, people make mistakes, even inhumane ones. Yes, the cobbler who kicked the homeless man is NOT an AmBank employee. But like it or not, AmBank’s reputation has been affected and – in many ways – tarnished, not just by the incident but by its cursory and unsatisfactory response.
A financial institution minting it could surely have offered some form of aid or at the very least help place the man in the hands of those who can help.
Speaking of those who can help – take a bow, Tony Lian. The good Samaritan popularly known as Uncle Tony took it upon himself to seek out this homeless man.
To cut a long story short, the founder of NGO Food4U who is in his 70s was able to locate the man and offer him temporary shelter until he gets back on his feet.
Now, I’m sure many Malaysians are aware of certain rightist groups and politicians who are actively trying to portray non-Muslims in Malaysia as heartless Zionists who lack empathy for not loudly and vociferously supporting the plight of Palestinians.
Let’s just apply that stereotyping brush to this incident – the female security guard hosing down the poor man and the cobbler kicking him appear to be from the majority group. The victim has been identified as a Muslim who fell on hard times after losing his job as a waiter.
The person who displayed a modicum of empathy and was proactive in offering assistance come from the ethnic group whose members are often labelled as Zionists.
Should the tables now be turned? Would it be fair to tarnish members of the majority group based on the actions of the security guard and the cobbler?
Given the speed of Malaysians in calling for a boycott when certain brands are perceived to have done wrong, shouldn’t AmBank also be at the receiving end of similar calls? Or are such actions reserved only for Palestinian who are perceived to have been displaced in their homeland? – Nov 26, 2025
Ex-AmBank customer
Gombak, Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
