'Banks don't care about public's safety'
The absence of 24-hour security guard service in the ATM lobby of banks in Malaysia after working hours in their bid to cut costs is not going down well with the public who depend on ATMs at irregular hours.
They said many people are preoccupied with work and only find time to visit the ATM lobby after office hours. "Are they more interested in cutting costs at the expense of safety of customers?" they asked.
Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society Chairman, Datuk Hj Zainie Abdul Aucasa said he can't understand why some banks had stopped this 24-hour security guard service, yet opened their premises to allow clients to do banking transactions, especially cash withdrawals.
He contended that banks are already easy targets for robbers, what more without security guards. "The situation is worse at night or weekends. Being vulnerable, ladies and senior citizens are the main targets. Why are some banks saving costs at the expense of their clients' safety," he asked while recalling that it was recently reported in the media that some youths had even blown up ATMs.
Retired civil servant Jenny Teo is upset over the absence of security guards in most banks after working hours, lamenting that this shouldn't be the case and goes to show that banking institutions are not bothered about public safety concerns.
"Come on, we are your valuable customers. You (commercial banks) use our money for investment purposes and huge profits but take our safety lightly. Why can't there be standardisation as banks like OCBC provide 24-hour security guard service?" she asked. "We would feel safe during ATM withdrawals, especially after working hours."
Given that ATM machines are targets for crime, law graduate Rachel Fung stressed that proper security measures should thus be taken now as precautionary measures rather than too late as remedial ones.
"Measures such as 24-hour security guard service and emergency buttons would give bank customers greater peace of mind and prevent crimes which are waiting to happen," she said.
Making her observation, a doctor, who declined to be named, said some ATM areas are secluded and not well-lit at night. "Hence the potential risk of being robbed but the presence of security guards will help to reduce such risk. And the concerned public will feel safer when using the ATM facility."
Meanwhile, chartered accountant Michael Tong's opinion differs. He believes that in a highly technological era, machines can do a more efficient and better job than man and are also more costeffective.
He insisted that banks offering 24-hour ATMs should provide a total secured and safe environment whereby safety measures such as proper lighting and a physical security system are in place, not just inside the banking premises but in the accessibility area too so that consumers can feel safe when leaving the ATM location.
"The system should be complete with highly visible surveillance and positioning cameras to monitor the area surrounding the cash machines for comprehensive reviews when a suspected activity has taken place," Tong suggested, adding the deterrence effect is also key to a safe withdrawal.
A Daily Express random check found that while the Maybank Karamunsing Branch provides 24-hour security guard service at its ATM lobby, the same cannot be said of other outlets in Kota Kinabalu which follow working hours.
As for Standard Chartered Bank, there is almost roundthe-clock security service daily, except for the period from 12 midnight to 2am, which is said to be maintenance time.