A domestic bank suffered its heaviest loss in its 26 years of operation after it approved a RM37 million loan to a company which then disappeared.

According to an Utusan Malaysia report today that quoted a source, the bank had approved the lump sum in 2009.

It quoted the source as saying that the bank had lodged a police report after an internal investigation failed to yield results.

"Initial police investigations found that certain parties had cunningly plotted to deceive the bank so that they had no problems in (getting the loan approved),” the source was quoted as saying.

"Aside from convincing documents (being produced), the loan-seekers had the guarantee of another bank."

The source declined to reveal if this was an inside job. The name of the company was not revealed on grounds of not wanting to affect the investigation or a possible court case.    

PAS’ struggle questioned

In a separate report, Utusan reported remarks by Mashitah Ibrahim, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, that PAS' struggle is becoming hollow.

azlan This is because the Islamic party had refused to support last Saturday's anti-apostasy rally or a proposal for an anti-apostasy law.

She said PAS would rather support electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 helmed by Ambiga Sreenevasan, who had previously supported the creation of an Interfaith Council Commission.

"When Bersih held an illegal rally, PAS went all out to support it. (But) where is PAS' stance and struggle in defending Islam?” she reportedly said.

"Their direction is becoming blurred. I believe its leaders are also confused about the direction of their struggle.”