BANK Muamalat Malaysia Bhd has issued a clarification that its rejection of the cheque in the Wah Chai Association and Agape Community Church incident has nothing to do with the halal reasoning.
“Bank Muamalat has never categorised a cheque as halal or otherwise,” the bank pointed out in a media statement. “As a banking institution, the bank accepts all valid cheques with complete and accurate details (of the payees).”
FocusM had earlier today highlighted an incident whereby a Maybank cheque issued by the Agape Community Church to the Wah Chai Association, a Seremban-based Chinese charity group, was rejected by the Seremban branch of Bank Muamalat.
The cheque was intended as a charitable deed to fund the beautification of the Lee Sam Road Chinese Cemetery in Seremban.
Based on its justification, Bank Muamalat said it deemed news reports which attributed the rejection of the said cheque by its Seremban branch on the basis of “not halal” as inaccurate.
“The bank has contacted the customer as there has been a technical error whereby the name of the association differs from what was registered. As such, the customer has been requested to make the necessary amendment,” Bank Muamalat said.
“Any arising enquiry from the bank is only intended to fulfil existing banking procedures as well as to protect the interest of the bank’s customers.”
According to Bank Muamalat, in a joint media conference between the bank and the Lobak state assemblyman Chew Seh Yong this morning, the parties concerned have fully agreed to accept that there was “no halal element in play except technical issue and misunderstanding”.
The bank’s president and CEO Khairul Kamarudin also reiterated that the bank is always prepared to extend cordial services to all its customers in regardless race and religion.
“Bank Muamalat is committed to provide quality and transparent service to all its customers,” he said. “Although the operation of Bank Muamalat adheres to the Shariah principles in its capacity as an Islamic banking institution, we offer our banking services to all deserving parties without racial or religious constraints.”
More information on the bank’s products and services can be obtained from www.muamalat.com.my or by calling its customer service centre at 03-2600 5500. – Dec 27, 2021
