The real identity of CAGM's purported chairman and patron Md Zainal Abidin would also be investigated so that legal action can follow, the bank said in a statement today.
AmBank said that action would be taken against the group and those behind the "elaborate hoax" which it said, contained "malicious and defamatory" statements against the bank, its chairman and employees.
"We are continuing our investigations and inquiries into CAGM and its purported chairman, Md Zainal Abidin, to ascertain the real identity of those behind the postings.
"Once their identities and motives are ascertained, we will take such action as is available to us under the law," AmBank said.
"Regardless of the motives behind this elaborate hoax, the postings of 12 and 14 July 2015 contain malicious and defamatory statements against AmBank Group, our Chairman and employees."
CAGM first sent a statement to the media on July 12, saying it had court documents in its possession to prove its claim about funds from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's accounts going to Barisan Nasional parties for the 2013 general election.
It released a statutory declaration (SD) yesterday, which purportedly explained how an AmBank employee was terminated for wanting to report to Bank Negara about transfers of funds that exceeded the threshold to Najib's personal account at the bank.
The Malaysian Insider had sent two emails to AmBank officials – chief financial officer Mandy Simpson and group corporate communications head Syed Anuar Ali for confirmation.
Simpson did not reply while Syed Anuar, who spoke to The Malaysian Insider, declined to confirm the contents of the purported SD.
The group later said in a blog post that the whole story based on the SD was a hoax and that no officer was sacked from AmBank because he supposedly knew about the millions of ringgit transferred into the prime minister's personal bank accounts.
The blog post also said that there was no such lawyer named Md Zainal Abidin, who had signed off on the Sunday press statement and who claimed to be CAGM's patron, adding that the whole thing was "just an experiment in social media in Malaysia".
AmBank said today that the republication of the group's purported statements in the media had gained it unwarranted attention and traction, adding that it was bound by financial laws that call for strict protection of their clients' confidentiality.
"It is of little comfort to us that the so-called CAGM now admits that this hoax was directed at the media and presumably not at us.
"The AmBank Group is bound by the Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA) and Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (IFSA). The FSA and IFSA are strict in their protection of client confidentiality. The Group adopts good practices in corporate governance and applies Malaysian banking laws and regulations. We have co-operated fully with the authorities in an open and transparent manner, and will continue to do so," it said.
AmBank added: "We would like to reassure our valued customers that the AmBank Group operates with high levels of integrity and that our business is operating as usual."
CAGM emerged on the non-governmental organisation scene around May this year when it offered RM1 million to anyone willing to expose former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's hidden wealth during his administration.
It also threatened to sue Dr Mahathir for losses due to corruption and wastage during his tenure.
The Zainal who has been speaking on behalf of the group and who emailed the SD now cannot be reached. Calls to his mobile phone have gone unanswered.
- TMI
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