Elderly couple expressed shock when bank told them they still owe over RM80,000

 KUCHING, February 21, 2022 - An elderly couple, who thought that they have settled their housing loan with a bank, was shocked to learn they still owed the bank of over RM80,000.

Picture: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen (right) talking to the couple outside the bank.

They took their case to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen after the bank insisted that they must settle the outstanding amount.

According to Chong, the couple, identified as Mr and Mrs Jee, both retirees, had been paying their loan for 20 years and were shocked to learn that they have only settled one-third of the loan.

“This is the distressing and shocking encounter of Mr and Mrs Jee when they found out that, after they have regularly made monthly repayment towards their housing loan for more than 20 years, there is still an outstanding of more than RM80,000 owed by them to the bank,” he said after meeting the couple.

He said that the couple told him that in the year 2000, they borrowed a housing loan of RM125,000 from to part-finance the purchase of their house.  

“Under the loan agreement, the repayment term is 240 months, that is 20 years.

“From year 2000 till 2021, over a span of 21 years, the couple have dutifully repaid the bank the monthly instalments.  

“Though there were a few rare occasions of delayed payments over the years, they have made up for the delayed payments.

“However, in 2021, the retired couple approached the bank, with the intention to fully settle the outstanding loan to discharge their house from the bank.  

“They thought, given that they have been regularly paying their monthly instalments to the bank for more than 20 years and that there is no letter of demand from the bank for any default on the repayment, the loan would have been substantially repaid.  

“They expected that the outstanding loan amount would, at most, be a few thousand ringgit.  

“They would use their retirement savings to clear the loan.

“However, that was not the case.  They were informed that as at December 31, 2020, there was still an outstanding amount of RM80,362.17 owed by them to the bank under the loan.  

“They were shocked and totally devastated.  Mr and Mrs Jee are now 68 years old and 63 years old respectively.  

“Having retired, they would have no income to continue paying their loans.

“As such, they approached me for help,” Chong said.

He said he brought them to discuss the matter with the bank and he also helped to draft a letter addressed to the bank seeking explanation on why, for a loan the repayment tenure of which was 20 years, there is still an outstanding of about tw-thirds of the loan amount.

He said in the course of the discussion with the bank’s manager, it was disclosed that there had been some variation of interest by the Bank as a result of which, the main bulk of their repayment were mainly for the interest charged.  

“Even if such were the case, there could not have been such a great disparity in the outstanding amount,” he said.

Chong said he had also sought the intervention of Bank Negara Malaysia to ensure that justice be done.to the couple.

“This is a battle between the ordinary helpless people against a giant corporation, in a battlefield where rules are set by the government in favour of the giant corporation,” he said.

“On a general note, all borrowers should regularly check their loan accounts to ensure that the interest rates charged by the banks are in accordance with the loan agreement and not unilaterally increased by banks,” he said.

Sarawak CM praises Sarawak Energy for transforming itself into a global energy industry player

KUCHING, February 21, 2022 - Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg today heaped praises on Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) for transforming itself into an international energy industry player, in the process carrying Sarawak’s flag at internationally and regionally energy industry platforms.

Picture: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg (centre) with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian (third from left), SEB group CEO Datuk Sarbini Suhaili (third from right) with other invited VVIPs at the centenary townhall.

He said for SEB to survive and thrive for 100 years is an exceptional feat, one which SEB has managed to accomplish.

“The longevity and achievements of your organisation are something all of us are very proud of,” he said at SEB Centenary Townhall here.

 “As Sarawak's primary power utility, your efforts and contributions have been key in supporting the government's efforts to drive socioeconomic development in Sarawak towards our ambition of becoming a high-income state by 2030,” he said.

Picture: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg launching the centenary townhall.

“Our goal is to ensure all Sarawakians have equal opportunities to participate in the state’s overall development and enjoy equitable distribution of wealth through jobs and business opportunities.

“Rural areas of Sarawak must be equipped with all the basic infrastructure and facilities to enable communities to participate in wealth creation activities, improving the standard of living in these areas,” he added.

“In comparison to 2009 when the rural electrification rate was only at 56%, today about 97% of our rural communities have access to 24/7 reliable, renewable and clean electricity via a suite of grid and off grid solutions including solar and micro hydro power systems,” he said.

SEB group chief executive officer Datuk Sarbini Suhaili said SEB has achieved remarkable milestones over the last 100 years.

“We can say with a strong measure of pride that we are now ahead of the sustainable energy development curve, transitioning from a generation mix that was 100% fossil fuel when we began in the 1920s to over 90% fossil fuel in 2010 to predominantly renewable hydropower today.

“We are now Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer, we have almost met our target of achieving full electrification of Sarawak by 2025.

“From a customer base of just 84 in southern Sarawak in the 1920s, we now provide electricity to over 740,000 accounts, serving a population of almost 3 million people in Sarawak, with customers in Indonesia.

“We started with around 30 staff and today, we are among the largest employers of professional Sarawak talent with 5,400 purposeful and dedicated employees.

“In fact, our subject matter experts are sought after to share their knowledge and technical expertise beyond our borders,” Sarbini said.

He said these accomplishments were made possible by the support and strategic direction of the Sarawak government, with much of today’s major corporate achievements a direct result of SCOREwhich was launched in 2008,” he said.

He said the period 2010 to 2020 was an important decade for Sarawak Energy as a direct result of its investment in hydropower development and focus on SCORE.

He said it has allowed SEB to support Sarawak’s economic growth and significantly transform Sarawak’s energy sector.

He said many important milestones were achieved during this period including the commissioning of the 944MW Murum Hydroelectric Plant as well as the delivery of Sarawak’s first interconnection to West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

He said during the past decade, SEB increased its installed generation capacity by 3.8 times to 5,233MW, with large hydropower contributing 3,452MW to the total capacity and increased its annual revenue by 3.6 times and reached the RM5 billion mark.

Bomba men stop Dayak woman from attempting to commit suicide

 BINTULU, February 20, 2022 - A 29-year old mentally distressed Dayak woman was successfully persuaded by rescuers from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and police not to jump off  a building here at lunch time today.

Picture: A 29-year mentally distressed Dayak woman attempted to end her life, rescued by Bomba men.

Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) spokesman said the woman, wearing an orange colour long-sleeved t-shirt and black  trousers, was seen standing outside the window of the building, believed to be trying to commit suicide.

He said the Bintulu station received a call at 12.42pm about a woman standing on the edge of the window of a building at Medan Sentral here.

“We managed to coax and persuade her not to jump from the third floor of the building,” the spokesman said in a press statement.

She was later handed over to the police for further action.

The ambulance later took her to the Bintulu hospital.

The Bomba statement, however, did not provide any clue why the woman had wanted to commit suicide.

Picture: The woman is seen standing outside the window of the third floor building.

Don't hunt wild boars for now, Uggah advises rural folks

BETONG, February 20, 2022 — Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah today advised the rural  folks to avoid hunting  wild boars for now in the efforts to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) to many parts of the state.

Picture: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah says African Swine Fever has spread in Kapit and Limbang.

He said although the wild boar meat of the affected animal may be safe to eat, kitchen leftovers if feed to domestic pigs would affect them.

“We have seen the deadly effect in many places and longhouses statewide. The disease had greatly reduced the domestic pig population,” Uggah said.

He said the wild boars crossing the state from across the border have been found to spread ASF in Kapit and Limbang.

Uggah gave the advice when addressing the Kubal Ulu Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu sub-branch( ranting) triennial delegates meeting at Rumah Mendit Unsu in Penom, Ulu Paku in Spaoh near here.

He said for those whose livestock have not been affected, they should take  all precautions to save them, including seeking the Veterinary Services Office for advice.

On politics, Uggah, who is also PBB deputy president, urged party members to take the necessary steps to further strengthen the state government anchor party.

“Let us, for instance, attract more 18-year olds and above to become members.

“Then our support base will be greatly enhanced,” he said.

He also said all grassroots leaders should not shy away from giving feedback to their elected representatives on the people ‘s expectations for development programmes and welfare assistance.

“We need the feedback to present to the state leaders.

“ The government is now prioritising income generating activities for rural folks through agricultural activities.

“ We also have programmes to assist those seeking welfare assistance,” he added.

Uggah thanked the  voters of Bukit Saban constituency for giving him their strong support in  the recent state election.

He said the opposition has tried to topple him by spreading lies, using character assassination tactics and allegations of nepotism and even vote buying.

But the voters, he said were not easily taken in as they could distinguish facts from lies.

 

Peter Kallang fears opening up large areas along the Sarawak's border with Kalimantan will lead to environmental, human rights disasters

 MIRI, February 19, 2022 - SAVE Rivers Sarawak chairman Peter Kallang today expressed his fears that opening up swaths of areas along the state’s border with Kalimantan will lead to environmental and human rights disasters committed in the name of development while ignoring all important areas of sustainability.

Picture: SAVE Rivers chairman Peter Kallang disagreeing with Sarawak government's proposal.

He was responding to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan’s statement that the state had requested the federal government to assist Sarawak to open up large areas along the border areas as Indonesia will be moving its capital from Jakarta, Java to Nusantara on the island of Borneo.

According to Awang Tengah, Nusantara will present tremendous opportunities for economic progress for Sarawak, adding that the state needs to open up the border with more roads and immigration points.

“With all due respect to Awang Tengah, I sincerely hope that this proposal will not mean another environmental and human rights disaster committed in the  name of progress but solely for economic gains while ignoring all other very important areas of sustainability.

“We have seen it happening almost in all over Sarawak, where provisional leases are issued for monoculture plantations, logging concessions, mining, sand dredging,” Kallang said.

He  said there will be trespassing customary right lands without prior consultation or commensurate restitution.

He said there will be no transparency and accountability by parties in areas like the environmental and social impact studies.

“We are also experiencing extreme impact from heavy rains and dry seasons, floods, erosion, land slide, river pollution and sedimentation of the riverbed while farms  are destroyed livestock died, homes and other properties are destroyed.

Awang Tengah recently met in Putrajaya with Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Economic Development) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.