Kuching: Two victims of the alleged Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Makmur Investment scam have received full refunds of their losses after months of pursuing their claims, according to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong said the two investors, identified only as Mr. Chai and Mr. Yeo, were persuaded by a former BSN employee to invest in the BSN Makmur Investment Fund at the bank’s Jalan Tun Jugah branch in Kuching.
According to him, Mr. Chai handed RM111,000 in cash to the officer in September 2025, while Mr. Yeo invested RM100,000 with the same employee during the same period. Both transactions were allegedly carried out at the BSN branch.
The alleged scam came to light when the controversy broke in November 2025. Chong said the two investors later approached BSN to verify their investments but were informed that the bank had no official records of the transactions and that the funds had allegedly been misappropriated by the employee, whose employment has since been terminated.
Following claims lodged with the bank, BSN refunded RM22,690 to Mr. Chai and RM30,000 to Mr. Yeo in February 2026. However, the bank withheld the remaining RM87,310 and RM70,000, respectively, citing concerns over the source of the funds, Chong said.
He said the pair subsequently sought his assistance, prompting him to write to BSN and to meet with the bank’s then chief executive officer, as well as the Deputy Finance Minister, to explain the source of the funds and argue that the issue should not prevent the victims from receiving full compensation.
According to Chong, BSN refunded the outstanding balances to both investors in late June, completing the reimbursement of their losses.
While welcoming the outcome, Chong said several other customers affected by the alleged scam have yet to receive full refunds. He pledged to continue assisting them in recovering their money.
He also revealed that he has submitted a parliamentary question to the Finance Minister seeking an explanation for why BSN has continued to refuse full compensation to some customers allegedly defrauded by a former employee while conducting banking business at its Jalan Tun Jugah branch. The question is awaiting a response during the current parliamentary sitting.
