Affin Bank faces flak over ‘wrong hornbill’ on debit card

 Sarawak DAP’s Violet Yong questions why GPS leaders did not notice that the wrong species of hornbill was depicted on the card.

Violet Yong of Sarawak DAP pointing out the difference between the two species of hornbill birds. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Affin Bank has been urged by a Sarawak assemblyman to apologise for depicting the wrong species of hornbill on a debit card exclusive to Sarawakians.

Pending assemblyman Violet Yong said the bird depicted on the “Kenyalang savings account” card was the great hornbill, found in mainland Asia, which is not native to Sarawak.

The state bird of Sarawak, the burung kenyalang, is the rhinoceros hornbill, found in Southeast Asia and Borneo. The rhinoceros hornbill is also depicted on the RM5 note.

Violet Yong.

“How can Affin Bank use a wrong identity to represent Sarawak? Sarawak’s hornbill has a black neck, while the one on the card has a white neck, confirming it is the wrong species,” she said, according to The Borneo Post.

Yong, who is Sarawak DAP organising secretary, said Affin Bank should not have made such a blunder when the Sarawak government became its majority shareholder recently.

Yong also questioned why none of the leaders of ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak had noticed the gaffe.

She urged the bank to recall the cards and replace them with ones that depict the correct species of hornbill.

Affin Bank’s Kenyalang savings account card.

Affin Bank introduced the Kenyalang savings account for Sarawakians last month. Account holders were given a special debit card bearing the hornbill graphic.

The Sarawak government has a 31.25% stake in the bank, after acquiring additional shares from the Armed Forces Fund Board and Boustead Holdings Bhd last year. - FMT