In 1985, Wong Foong Ying opened an account at a multinational bank thinking that it would be the safest place on earth to keep her savings.

But in 2006, the 62-year-old housewife was aghast when she found out that the account was closed more than 10 years ago and the amount at the time, RM4,339.24 was withdrawn.

After lodging a police report on the matter and complaining to the bank concerned, she was furnished with a letter of indemnity (LI), claiming that one 'Wong Foong Yin' had withdrawn the amount without a savings passbook dated May 24, 1994.

The name on the LI was missing the letter 'G' which was clearly seen on Wong's Mykad.

The LI also claims that 'Wong Foong Yin' had lost her passbook and bears her signature.

"We didn't lose the passbook and never reported such a loss. The bank should have investigated claims that the passbook missing first," said Wong's husband Teng Kok Wee, 64.

The couple were relating their problems during a press conference today, called by DAP Selangor secretary Lau Weng San.

No thorough checks

Upon receiving Wong's complaint, the bank concerned informed her that it would not accede to her claims over the money in her former account as the signature in her complaint letter matched that of the LI.

An inquiry held by the Financial Mediation Bureau too informed Wong of similar findings on March 15 this year, based on the Chemistry Department's forensic examination of 25 signature specimens.

Lau said the problem here should rightfully lie with the discrepancy in Wong's actual name on the Mykad and the name used in the LI.

"There is no indication on the LI that the person who disbursed the money had thoroughly inspected the identity of the person who made the withdrawal," said Lau.

On the LI, there were no mention of Wong's Mykad number nor her address.

Lau urged the public not to let their accounts be dormant and also adopt complicated signatures.

Wong is expected to take up the matter with the consumer claims tribunal soon.