I am pleased to note that many Maybank customers have already written to their bank to express their fury over the bank's recent move to impose a RM12 annual fee for Internet banking.

I am, to say the least, disgusted when banks impose a charge for every extra service they offer customers when such a service is readily available as a by-product of their IT system.

Quite apart from this, bankers now impose a two-day float for inter-bank transfers transacted on Internet banking. Why they need the float and why it has to be two days are beyond me, but what remains a mystery is the cost of funds between the time a transferor's account is debited to that when the transferee's account is credited.

The amount involved is substantial and can even make a difference to the bank's bottom line. Maybe it is time for bankers to visit their bottom line to see how much of it is robbed from customers.

Coming back to the issue of the Internet banking fee, I urge Bank Negara to allow foreign banks operating in Malaysia to offer similar Internet banking so that the Malaysian public can have a better choice in terms of which bank offers the right service in the right manner and at the right price.

Otherwise, Bank Negara would be seen as an accomplice to the local banks who commit, or will eventually commit, this super highway robbery.