Mahfuz: BN behind suspension of bank officer

PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar believes the BN government exerted political pressure on Bank Islam to suspend its chief economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin.

Mahfuz (left), who is also Pokok Sena MP, said a financial institution would not react in such manner to its economist for making a professional statement for the importance of the bank.

He believes political pressure was exerted by the government, using the stake it has in Bank Islam through Tabung Haji, which owns the majority share in the financial institution.

"I believe this (directive) comes from the government. I do not think Bank Islam would react stupidly, which will impact the people's trust in Bank Islam," Mahfuz told a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Azrul had yesterday claimed that the suspension order issued to him by his employer was politically motivated.

"I do not know what to say. I am shocked that this happened," Azrul said.

"I don't want others to suffer. This is for my boss' benefit," he explained, adding that his superiors were facing undue influence from "senior BN leaders".

Mahfuz, in a press conference at PAS headquarters today, said the suspension gave the impression that Bank Islam is putting BN’s political interests ahead of their clients’ and is dismissing their chief economist’s analysis.

This, he said, sends the wrong message to those who keep and invest their money in Bank Islam and Tabung Haji.

“If this happens, what guarentee is there that Tabung Haji and Bank Islam can look after their deposits?

“I have lost faith in Bank Islam and Tabung Haji now,” he said.

Tabung Haji: Suspension has nothing to do with us

Meanwhile, when contacted, Tabung Haji said the issue of the suspension was an internal Bank Islam affair and had nothing to do with the pilgrims fund board.

Its Public Affairs and Group Corporate Communications general manager Anis Zuhani Ahmad said both Tabung Haji and Bank Islam are run individually, each with its own employment conditions for its respective staff.

“I think Tabung Haji has nothing to do with this issue as it is an internal Bank Islam issue.

"Bank Islam and Tabung Haji possess different board of directors and the issue should be referred to the Bank Islam human resources division,” she told Malaysiakini.

She, however, confirmed that Tabung Haji does own an 18 percent interest in Bank Islam.

Malaysiakini is contacting Bank Islam to obtain a more detailed explanation regarding Azrul’s suspension. 

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