BNM told to monitor Sabah's licensed 'Ah Longs'
April 10, 2011 Kota Kinabalu: Bank Negara Malaysia should keep a close watch on the activities of licensed money lenders in Sabah who are taking advantage of financially strapped borrowers to charge exorbitant interest rates above what is allowed under the Moneylenders Act 1951.
Section 17(A)(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 stipulates that interest for a secured loan shall not exceed 12 per cent per annum and interest for an unsecured loan shall not exceed 18 per cent per annum.
In making the call, Consumer Front of Sabah President Nordin Thani alleged that operators were charging borrowers up to 15 per cent interest, per month, rather than per annum for unsecured loans.
"They dictate their own "take it or leave it" terms leaving the people who resort to them with no choice but to accept.
"This is not just empty talk. Bank Negara should go down to the field and find out for themselves. We have victims who trusted a licensed operator would not commit impropriety and they are ready to talk about their experience.
"Or, if Bank Negara is willing to listen to our suggestions, call us and we would be at their doorstep at a moment's notice," he said here Saturday.
Nordin said borrowers, mostly civil servants, have shied away from complaining to the relevant authorities or lodging a police report for fear of embarrassment and repercussion.
A 60-year-old pensioner from Tambunan said he once needed RM1,000 during an emergency and approached a licensed money lender who loaned him RM850 and deducted RM150 for interest.
"Every month I had to pay RM304 for 10 months.
Imagine how much that amounted to. I felt cheated," he added.
Nordin stressed if operators were found to have violated guidelines their license should be revoked.
There are about 2,000 registered moneylenders in the country.- Bernama
Harap Bank Negara akan memantau kegiatan peminjam tetap supaya tidak mengenakan faedah yang tidak munasabah.
BalasPadamharap pekara ini dapat dipantau dan diberikan perhatian yang sewajarnya.
BalasPadampeminjam wang yang mengenakan kadar faedah yang tidak munasabah haruslah dikenakan tindakan yang tegas.
BalasPadamAdakah bank perlu membuat satu lagi pakej khas peminjaman untuk orang yang berpendapatan rendah, agar mereka tidak pergi kepada moneylenders.
BalasPadamsyarikat pinjaman seperti ini perlu sentiasa dipantau kegiatannya.
BalasPadamOrang ramai juga dinasihatkan jangan mengambil jalan yang singkat dan meminjam dengan moneylenders.
BalasPadamBNM memang perlu mengawasi perkara ini. Kadang-kadang lesen yang digunakan oleh mereka ini tidak palsu. Kepada mereka yang kesempitan wang, seharusnya berhati-hati dengan ah long.
BalasPadamPeople should resist themselves from going for Ahlongs.
BalasPadamThese sorta Ah longs service should always be monitored.
BalasPadamjangan lah buat pinjaman dengan Ah Long.. mungkin masalah akan selesai tapi masalah yang lebih besar akan datang malah mungkin lebih teruk dari masalah sebelumnya.
BalasPadamtidak akan ada penawaran jika tidak ada permintaan. oleh sebab itu rakyat juga perlu memainkan peranan dengan tidak sekali2 menggunakan khidmat mereka..
BalasPadamHarap bank negara akan tolong memantau institusi peminjaman halal di Sabah.
BalasPadamVillager, itu bukan Ah Long, tapi pusat peminjaman wang yang berlesen.
BalasPadamThese legal money lenders charges high interests compare to bank rates.
BalasPadamselepas ini diharap tiada lagi peminjam yang dikenakan faedah yang tinggi dari yang sepatutnya bila BNM sudah memantau semua institusi peminjam berlesen.
BalasPadam