Rm1 Atm Withdrawal Fee Please Stop Squeezing Blood From The Rakyat

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Letter to Editor
I RECENTLY read that Maybank posted a profit of RM10.09 bil for FY2024.
A few elite will likely benefit from this huge profit, while the majority of Malaysians will continue to struggle—to pay off our loans, to feed our families and to enjoy a decent quality of life.
The rich get richer and the poor continue to suffer—this has become the norm in our country.
What tugs at my heart is the fact that with such huge profits, not only for Maybank, but other banks I am sure, banks continue to squeeze blood from consumers.
From interest rates, transaction fees, late payment charges and even fees to withdraw our own money from ATMs.
I know these charges may be a drop in the ocean to the rich, but for those in the middle- and lower-income rungs, even sen counts.
Of course, banks and other major players have their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes where they would organise a visit to an orphanage or old folks home and invite the press.
To us, the lay people, this is nothing but cheap publicity and throwing peanuts to the poor.
By raking in billions, the least these banks can do is to abolish certain charges which pose an additional burden to the people.
Good examples would be the exorbitant late charges and the RM1 fee charged to withdraw our money.
These charges add up and despite repeated pleas by the people, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consumer groups and others, banks continue to turn a deaf ear.
It is time the government hears the cries of their poor and stop taking sides with the rich. We are in pain, suffering to earn every ringgit and yet, nobody cares.
Why proudly post profits of billions? Is this going to guarantee you a sound after-life?
You are measured by what you do now on earth, how well you treat other human beings, help ease their sufferings and lend them a helping hand.
It pains us normal rakyat of Malaysia to read of these exorbitant profits at the expense of others.
It is time for banks to give something back to the rakyat and they should start by abolishing the little things.
You even want to squeeze us of RM1 to withdraw our own money. Please stop these atrocities and have some mercy. 
Nik Imran Nik Hussein
Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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