Bank Negara has been urged to put an end to the discriminatory policy of banks appointing legal firms based on racial quotas.

The call was made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a protest letter handed to a representative of Bank Negara governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz today.

Lim said as the country's sole banking industry regulator, Bank Negara must put a stop to the promotion of racial quotas in the banking profession.

According to the opposition leader, two banks which practised this policy were Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and Ambank Bhd.

In a circular dated March 29 to its panel of solicitors, Maybank had included a new rule which would require them to have at least one bumiputera partner with 50 percent ownership of the firm.

Political interference

Lim said the rule by the biggest banking group in the country was akin to political interference in what should purely be a professional affair.

"Maybank appears to be even more racist than existing government policies," he said.

"What is offensive about Maybank's latest edict is the implication that bumiputera legal firms are not capable and require such a quota to assist them to carry out professional work.

"Equally offensive is that the professional quality of the work done by non-bumiputera lawyers is secondary to the priority of not having bumiputera partners," he added.

Maybank corporate communication personnel declined to comment on the protest letter.

There has been growing criticism against Maybank - controlled by government-fund manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd - over the policy.

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM) and the Bar Council have objected the move.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek, Deputy Finance Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Teong Lai have also voiced their protest.