SEREMBAN: A former CEO of Bank Muamalat has made clear that Islamic banking is for all Malaysians, following a misunderstanding between the bank and two non-Muslim groups.
“Firstly and most importantly, Islamic banking is for all and truly, it has been,” said Datuk Mohd Redza Abdul Wahid (pic).
Mohd Redza, who served as CEO until November 2019, said cheque payments made by any organisation must be honoured unless there are elements involving the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).
“The Prophet Muhammad was exemplary in his treatment of non-Muslims. Until the day he passed away, he fed a blind Jewish beggar every day,” he said.
He apologised to the Agape Community Church and the Wah Chai Association, on behalf of the Islamic banking community, after the bank had allegedly rejected a cheque issued by the religious group.
In the Facebook posting, Mohd Redza said the matter was “disturbing” and that the error made was individual in nature and did not comply with the spirit of Islamic banking.
Earlier yesterday, Bank Muamalat head of banking operations Muhamad Radzuan Rahman met with Lobak assemblyman Chew Seh Yong and Wah Chai Association representatives.
The meeting took place following a query from Chew on Friday on why the bank had rejected a cheque for a RM1,500 donation from a religious group meant for Wah Chai Association, apparently because it was “not halal”.
Chew said an officer from Wah Chai made the “non-halal” claim to him after the bank rejected the cheque.
However, Muhamad Radzuan said the bank initially rejected the cheque as the name of the payee was not the same as the one registered in its system.
“Let me make it very clear that there is no such thing as a halal or non-halal cheque,” he said.
Muhamad Radzuan said when Chew assisted the association to bank in the cheque a second time, the bank gave the clearance to accept the cheque.
“The whole episode was due to a misunderstanding,” he said.
Chew said he and Wah Chai Association had accepted the bank’s explanation.