KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — A total of RM11.2 billion of unclaimed money is under the management of the Accountant-General’s Department (JANM) as of April 30, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said over 70 per cent of the unclaimed money was from bank accounts which had been inactive for seven years or more.
“As of yesterday, we have refunded RM3.3 billion to the people who made claims,” he said during the question-and-answer session.
Ahmad was responding to a query from Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, who wanted to know the amount of accumulated unclaimed money as of March 31 and the plans to utilise the funds for national development.
Elaborating, he said some RM10 billion of the unclaimed money had been kept in fixed deposits and generated RM250 million in returns annually, for the past 10 years.
The RM250 million returns earned had been paid to consolidated funds and used for development and assistance to the people.
Ahmad said unclaimed money is also defined as money that has not been paid to its owners, such as salaries, bonuses and dividends within a year or more, as well as money in trading accounts between suppliers and companies.
Meanwhile, the government is ready to consider using the unclaimed money for scholarships, but the main focus now is to return the money to the public.
He said those who wish to make a claim can refer to the JANM’s portal at www.janm.gov.my or https://egumis.anm.gov.my.
— Bernama
