Unfreeze Genneva gold buyers' assets, BNM urged
M Krishnamoorthy
6:02PM Oct 10, 2012
Umno Youth wants Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to liquidate and unfreeze all assets of Genneva gold buyers because more than 10,000 innocent customers of
the gold company have appealed to its complaints bureau.
"Enough is enough and gold buyers and investors should not be made to suffer because of the central bank's high-handed action," the wing's complaints bureau head Khairun Aseh (left) said today.
He added: "Why punish and victimise bona fide buyers of gold when it was the old directors of Genneva who were guilty of the offence more than two years ago.
"It's not fair to punish the current investors. The past seven days for the investors who have not got their hibah and commissions has been like 70 years.
"Some of the parents had to recall their children from education overseas because they will not have the money to continue financing their education. Some could not go for serious medical operations, dialysis and feed the family without their regular income through the hibah."
For this reason, Khairun said, he wanted Bank Negara to act swiftly to unfreeze the assets and bank accounts for the company to continue its operations while investigations were in progress.
Umno Youth, he told a press conference at the bureau in Solaris Dutamas this afternoon, would write a letter to Bank Negara today to ask it to act immediately.
About 2,000 people from the Genneva Malaysia Supporters group were gathered in and around the complaints bureau office.
Khairun said he would also seek an appointment to discuss the matter with Bank Negara officers so that thousands of Malaysian families would not suffer any further.
Why didn't bank regulate gold industry?
Bank Negara's raid on Genneva and other gold companies is not seen as a fair and justified as the people have put their life savings into gold investment.
"Why didn't Bank Negara regulate the gold trading industry? This is not something new. The bank has been raiding without regulating the gold trading industry.
"The gold buyers are not accomplices and should not be made victims because the gold business is not regulated."
Khairun added that Bank Negara has been advising the people not to invest in gold. However, with gold being one of the best forms of investment, Bank Negara should explain why the people should not invest it in.
Genneva's Syariah compliant gold was officially launched by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, on Dec 15, 2010.
Prime Minister Najib Adbul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor, members of the Malay royalty and other prominent personalities have graced Genneva's dinners and official events.
Bank Negara raided Genneva on Oct 1 and followed up with raids on other gold selling companies.
Some of Genneva's gold investors have been investing in the company since it opened for business at the end of 2010.
According to Genneva's customers, Bank Negara raided the company because a top-ranking bumiputera officer in Genneva demanded more in salary and allowances early this year and it was not approved.
Frustrated, he resigned and got Islamic NGOs and the Fatwa Council to campaign against Genneva and lodged complaints with Bank Negara. The complainant also attempted to file a caveat on Genneva, but it was struck out by the High Court, the customers said.
Khairun described Genneva's business model as "truly revolutionary, innovative and true to its spirit".
It has since grown into one of the leading gold bullion traders in Asia with businesses in Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong and in China, where Genneva has a 30-year operating licence in Beijing.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211325Moronic. Emotions override facts.